Passed away March 7, 2013 in his house in the arms of his parents, Richard and Cristina. Danny was six days shy of his 11th birthday. He had fought a childhood cancer, neuroblastoma, and, later on, therapy-related AML leukemia, beating the odds for five years.
Danny, a fifth-grader at Next Generation School in Champaign, read books intensely, loved playing Harry Potter with his friends during recess, laughed mightily at Singing in the Rain and A Night at the Opera, was an enthusiastic cook and gourmet, and, a natural athlete, thrilled in outdoor activities and play. He played piano and violin, and sang with his brother in the Central Illinois Children’s Chorus. He played baseball in the Champaign Little League, Border district in 2011 and when he was six, soccer in Santa Barbara, California.
Danny was born in Ventura, California, on March 13, 2002, and lived with his family in Santa Barbara until July 2008. From the moment we met him he was our darling. He was a joy and a blessing for us and for anyone who came in contact with him. Danny and his brother, Tommy, younger by 20 months, shared many wonderful moments, playing and getting in trouble together and waking their parents up much too early. His baby brother, Marco, could always bring a smile to Danny’s face. Most of all, Danny loved people and having his family and close friends near him.
Danny’s favorite summer time activity was swimming in the Mediterranean in front of his grandparents’ home in Valencia, Spain, and playing futbol to dark. Always gentle and loving, himself, Danny taught us all how to be happy and considerate with each other, even through the most difficult of his treatments.
He is survived by his parents, Richard Nardi and Cristina Toharia, his brothers, Tom and Marco, his grandparents, Manuel Toharia, Ketty Zapata, and Jean Nardi, his great-grandmother, Ketty Ferrer, and his extended family, including his much loved cousins.
Throughout his life, he touched and inspired so many, before and after his disease.
There will be a Memorial/Celebration of Life for Danny on April 13th. Details will be posted soon. Donations may be sent in the name of “Danny’s Fund” to go to childhood cancer research. Contact the family at dannysfundorg@gmail.com, or please visit www.dannysfund.org (in construction).
Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.
