Daniel K. Clinch, 61, of Cortland, passed away on September 14, 2023 following an extended illness.
Dan was born March 25, 1962 in Lowville, NY, a son of the late Keith and Shirley DeLong Clinch.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1981, and was stationed in Pax River, MD; Rota, Spain and Oceana, Virginia Beach. Dan received many awards including letters of commendation, the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1992.
He married Wendy Reed Harris on October 7, 2006 and they would have celebrated 17 years of marriage next month.
Dan was genetically diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in 2009 at the University of Rochester, where he and Wendy visited often throughout the years seeing many doctors but making one true bond with Amy Chesire whom without, we would have struggled so much more on our path. Dan really did fight the good fight against this horrible disease, drug trials, doctor visits and all the while providing love, guidance and support to Wendy.
Surviving is his wife, Wendy; brother, Tom (Sue) Clinch of Watertown; sister, Renee Gessis Jolly (Ken Smith) of Tacoma, WA; his step-sons, Mathew (Alicia) Shawl and their children Emmett and Graham; Lloyd Harris and his son, Wyatt Sutton Harris, Zebediah Harris (Arminda Bakos) and their daughter, Scarlett; his in-laws, Allen and Kathi Bond Reed, Ellen Moran, Charlene and Jimmy Maloney, Tod and Jean Reed, and Judd and Deb Tuttle Reed. So many nieces and nephews whom he enjoyed so much when he was with them, and in later years hearing about their lives and the new lives they brought into this world.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Erica Clinch; a brother, Kenneth Clinch; sister-in-law, Joanne John; and a brother-in-law, Timothy Reed.
At Dan’s request, his body was donated to Syracuse University for the advancement of science. A burial will be completed at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Cortland sometime in the future.
There will be a celebration of life event for Dan at Life Church of the Nazarene, 535 Thompson Blvd, Watertown, NY on Sunday, October 8, 2023 starting after the late service, around 12:15pm. Please come and have something to eat in Dan’s memory, because we all know what an appetite for life and food he had.
Wendy would like to thank all of the staff at Guthrie Cortland Residential Care Facility – Cedar Run for the excellent care and compassion they showed to Dan during his short stay there.
