Mr. Daniel Birmeli Dingman

Loving husband, father and devoted follower of Christ, Dan was born to Charles and Monna Dingman in Palmer, Massachusetts April 5, 1924, youngest of nine boys and was followed by one sister. He is survived by one brother, Dr. Paul Dingman of Texas and his sister Bette (Jacques) Fauteaux of Massachusetts. His father was an engineer and construction estimator with several books published on construction subjects by McGraw-Hill. Dan began working with his father at an early age and construction estimating and management was his life career. He began his college education at American International College in Springfield Massachusetts and completed his Bachelor’s degree forty years later at University of Southern Florida. Dan was a committed pacifist and followed his older brother Gerald into Civilian Public Service during World War II. He worked all his life to promote peace and offer love where there was hate. In 1947 Dan married Frances Coutu and together they raised a family of six children. They moved to California in 1953. In the 1970’s Dan worked as Chief Estimator for WED Engineering, a division of Disney and was transferred to Florida as Disney World began to be built. He was always proud to be a part of it and was honored with his name on a Main Street window. When his division was closed he formed a company that built Rosie O’Grady’s. While in Orlando he served a term as President of the Orlando branch of the Cost Engineers Society. He then went to work for Tampa Electric. In 1976 to honor the Bi-centennial, Dan worked out a way to fold tissue paper and then cut it with one snip of the scissors to produce 13 stars in a circle. He used this to end a talk on the history of the American Flag for the Tampa Electric Company’s speaker’s bureau. He was one of their most requested speakers. He also served two years as President of the Tampa Regional Artists Association. After retiring from Tampa Electric Dan volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem for children in the court system until illness caused him to move to be with his children. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Frances (Fran) and his children Craig (Denise) of San Luis Obispo, CA, Monna (Anne) of Los Alamos, CA, Teresa (Paul) of Orlando, FL, David (Cindy) of Taos, NM, Martha (John) of Lewisville, NC and Carol (Sam) of Los Angeles, CA; Grandchildren; Scott (Marnie), Rhonda, Naomi, Danielle (Gary), Monica (Terry), Jenna, Ericka, Kadie, Henry, Hailey, William; Great Grandchildren- Daniel, Wyatt, Shelby, Cybelle, Kylie, Dakota, Keon, Athena, Isobel, Kaitlynn, Vincent; siblings Paul of Houston, TX and Bette (Jacques) of Hubbleston, MA Because of his belief and practice of gentility, peace and social justice the Daniel B. Dingman Scholarship for Peace & Justice has been established by the Los Alamos Foundation in Los Alamos, California. Donations in his memory to “The Los Alamos Foundation” would be welcome and may be sent to The Los Alamos Foundation, PO Box 477, Los Alamos, CA 93440. Arrangements are entrusted to DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751. (407) 695-CARE(2273).

Mr. Daniel Birmeli Dingman

April 5, 1924 - September 10, 2013