Joseph S Danon

Joe Danon passed away late on the evening of Friday, April 15. It was Shabbat and the First Night of Pesach, as well as being a rare confluence of four major religions’ holidays. Joe was a good and honest man who was incredibly loyal to his friends and family. Together with his wife of 58 years, Sandra, he raised two incredible children, Leslie and Jerrold, and became a grandfather of six, who affectionately nick-named him “Papa Joe”. Joe was a soft-spoken, kind, unassuming, brilliant person, and hilariously funny (sometimes even intentionally). He had a dry sense of humor that would sneak up on you. His six adoring grandchildren thought of him as a big teddy bear. Joe was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Julie (Merzan) Danon and Solomon Danon. He left Egypt after the over-throw of King Farouk and lived in Paris where he furthered his engineering studies. He immigrated to the United States with the assistance of HIAS, settling initially in Dayton, Ohio, where he graduated from the University of Dayton with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon Graduation, he became an engineer with Boeing in Seattle. He eventually settled in Los Angeles and became an expert in Pneumatic Controls. He was awarded many patents including for the design and development of the Combat Edge Regulator for NASA and the U.S. Military. He loved good food, and became a decent gourmet cook. He loved sports, swimming in the ocean, tennis, and had a passion for architecture and design. The latter he put to good use spear-heading the renovation of the family’s Hancock Park home where he would bask in the sun in his lush garden. He is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Leslie and son-in-law Greg Dean, son Jerrold and daughter-in-law Brenda ‘Nyambura’ Danon, and six grandchildren: Aidan Dean, Bryce Dean, Aaliyah Danon, Aarikah Danon, Aarynnah Danon, and Aaron Danon. Rest in Peace, Papa Joe… You will be missed.