Obituary of Daniel Joseph Shannon

Daniel Joseph Shannon, who had a passion for Boston sports and a career that gave him the opportunity to live his passion every day, passed away from an apparent heart attack at his home on Thursday evening, April 12, 2016, he would have celebrated his 57th birthday on Monday April 18th. Dan was born in Winchester and grew up in Burlington where he excelled in youth hockey. He went on to Austin Preparatory School where he played hockey and was a member of the 1977 graduating class. He and his fellow 1974-1975 teammates were inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Austin Preparatory Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Dan was always a huge Bruins Hockey fan from the Days of Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. So at the age of 19 he took a part time job at the Boston Garden on their “Bull Gang.” It was also Larry Bird’s and Ray Bourque’s first year on the Celtics and Bruins. The Bull Gang were present at every Boston Garden event from concerts, wrestling, Disney On Ice, Celtics, and Bruins games. They would be responsible to remove and reinstall the flooring over the ice, and maintain the ice during the games. Dan never missed a home game and would watch the games with his skates on from the Zamboni entrance always prepared to jump on the ice to patch, squeegee , or repair the ice surface of glass. His regular 5 seconds of stardom was that he always the person responsible to roll out the rug for Rene Rancourt to sing the National Anthem. Some people like to golf for a hobby, but for Dan it was the Boston Garden. He could skate, watch all the games, see the Celtics win numerous NBA Championships, and best of all see all his favorite Bruins players up close and personal. Dan also loved sharing his love for the Bruins with others. He was always giving away pucks used in the game. He used his carpentry skills to make frames from broken hockey sticks used in the games. He made them for players, coworkers, friends, and family. He always made sure the name of the player on the stick was displayed prominently on the frame. Everyone that knew Dan, knew his passion for the Bruins and his pride in his contribution to the team he loved so much. Dan full time job was that of a Foreman for the Carpenter’s Union, Local 111. He was with the Union for 30 years and specialized in glass installations. He worked all over Boston and the surrounding area. He worked on the Convention Center, Logan Airport, the Old State House, Boston Public Library, Boston University and other colleges and universities, and many of the sky-scrapers in town. When driving with Dan, he would proudly point out to anyone who was in the car, the building they were driving by and what he did on the property. He was easy to work with and was engaging to talk with his vast amount of stories. Dan was also believed in being involved in his community. He involved himself in whatever his girls participated in. He coached both their softball teams at the same time. When they became cheerleaders, he and his wife Carolyn became very active in the Burlington Pop Warner Program. Carolyn was the President, and Dan helped organize the concession stand. They would host Saturday night work parties with fellow Pop Warner parents and then spend the entire Sunday in the concession stand raising funds for the program. When the girls were in high school, he was active in the Booster Club and their concession program. He also worked the sidelines during the high school football games. Dan was always there for his family, friends, and community. He loved his family, pursued his passions, and despite passing at such a young age had no regrets. Dan was the beloved husband of Carolyn M. (Wrenn) Shannon. Loving father of Erin Shannon of Charlestown and Bridget Shannon of Malden. He was the son of the late Thomas and Barbara Shannon. He was the brother of Donna Smith & her husband Andrew of Burlington, Stephen & his wife Nancy of Holbrook, Susan Newell & her husband Paul of Westmont, NJ, and Robert & his wife Terry of Dracut. He was the brother-in-law of Daniel & Patricia Wrenn of Lakeville, Daniel & Kathleen Noonan of Burlington, Joseph & Amy Wrenn of Winchester, Paul & Mimi Wrenn of Charlestown, and Stephen & Suzanne Fogarty of Melrose. Dan was the uncle of 27 nieces and nephews. He was also survived by many friends and coworkers. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Saturday, April 16 at 8:45 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Margaret’s Church at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-8 p.m. To assist with parking, please use the shuttle bus service provided from St. Margaret’s parking lot, 111 Winn St., Burlington, during visiting hours on Friday. Foreman for Local 111 and 37 year member of the Boston Garden’s “Bull Gang” Please Omit Flowers. Memorials in Dan’s memory may be made to Burlington Pop Warner, PO Box 1521 Burlington, MA 01803