Daniel “Dan” James Kash passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, after a battle with gastric cancer with metastasis to the brain.

Born in 1965, he was raised in Smithtown and Port Jefferson, New York. Dan was an only child, although he was a devoted half-sibling to Louis Kash Jr., Kathryn Kash Murphy, Gregory Kash, Jeanne Kash Barbet, Robert Walker, Nancy Walker Fish, and Thomas Walker.

Dan was a volunteer fireman, on the high school rifle team, and earned honors as an Eagle Scout. He received an Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While there, Dan also enjoyed skiing and playing rugby. He became a member of the Theta Chi, Epsilon chapter fraternity. Upon graduation, Dan was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating flight school, he was assigned as a pilot to March Air Force Base, Riverside, CA to fly KC-10 Extender aircraft. During this time, Dan proudly served in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

In 1990 Dan met the love of his life, 2nd Lieutenant Deborah “Debbie” Ann Haley. They both served in the Air Force at March Air Force Base and married in 1991.

Dan left the Air Force as a Captain in 1992 and went into the private sector, pursing a career in his lifelong passion of computers and technology. His career path would lead him to achieve many certifications in various technical fields and would ultimately lead him to become an IT Systems Architect.

Dan and Debbie lived in San Marcos, California, where they enjoyed serving their community through participation in a veteran’s organization, The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), and their church, Meadowlark Community Church. Dan also enjoyed family gatherings and playing online games—World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Secret World—and attending BlizzCon with his friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024, Dan will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery on April 22, 2024. Please contact the family for details.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Thomas.