Daniel Shay

Daniel Quin Shay December 20th, 1929 — November 17th, 2022 Surrounded by a crowd of loving descendants from all branches of his extensive family tree, Daniel Quin Shay passed away peacefully in the evening of Thursday, November 17th, 2022. He expressed how grateful he was for his 92 years — emphasizing the joy his family brought him and repeatedly conveying that he lived a wonderful and full life. He was born December 20th, 1929 to loving parents Pauline Goodreau and Lloyd Augustus Shay in Highland Park, Michigan. Dan enjoyed a simple and pleasant childhood, spending his early years catching frogs and romping with dogs alongside adored siblings Sally, Patricia, Jane, and Thomas. At St. Boniface’s and St. Leo’s, he was a talented football player — but displayed his humility and sense of humor by defining himself as a career benchwarmer in basketball. Danny met the love of his life Katherine “Becca” Mollasis shortly after high school graduation as a vibrant and fresh-faced teenager. They married February 9th, 1950 and shared a love story that was unique and rare, spending memorable years together in an upper flat on Kentucky Street in Detroit. With “Ma” Cleo Mollasis closely supervising from the lower flat, they started raising their first three children: Augustus “Gus,” Marianne “Cookie”, and Paul Daniel. Stories of the eventful and entertaining environment they cultivated in the home -- shared with Georgie and Freda Mollasis and their children Cleanthe and Kostaki – are still regaled during family gatherings today. A doting and attentive husband, all would agree Dan was close to earning sainthood among all those Greek women. Dan and Becca moved to Hizmet drive in Livonia and welcomed their youngest son, George “Duke,” in January 1967. This house was filled with love and laughter from the family that grew tremendously over the 61 glorious years of their marriage. Dan’s last ten years were spent being meticulously cared for by his eldest son Gus and his dear daughter-in-law Janice on Westmore Street. A pressman by trade, he joined the GCIU Local 13 in 1951 and was dedicated to and proud of his craft — printing The Detroit Times until it closed its doors and then moving on to The Detroit News. He was a member of the first crew to print The Livonia Observer when it opened and finished his career there, retiring in 1995. In his leisure time, Dan enjoyed playing cards with in-laws Bessie and George, visiting Belle Isle and Boblo, and watching football — despite being a fan of the Detroit Lions. You could often find him listening to the Tigers’ radio broadcast in his garage while tending his immaculate gardens and plush green lawn. Above everything, Dan cherished taking care of his family. He delighted in his children and was present for nearly all of the births of his 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. In his final days, he was proud to learn that he would become a great-great-grandfather in the summer of 2023 (stay tuned). Anyone who had the pleasure to know him would agree that Dan was a humble and kind spirit, one of the nicest and most gentle men to have walked among us. He leaves behind an enormous and irrevocable legacy in a family that he taught to remain fiercely loyal to each other. He is survived by children Gus (Jan), Cookie (Butch), Paul (Joan E.), Duke (Toni), grandchildren Erica (Jeff), Kleanthe Hope (Derrik), April (Kevin), Samuel (Valerie), Daniel Anthony (Nora), Daniel Quin II, Katherine (Jamie), Quin (Arielle), Vincent (Lia), Steven Ray (Rosemary), Maisy, and great-grandchildren Brittney Shay (Lucas), Cecilia, Gabrielle, Hope Katherine, Dominic, Riley, Sophia, Derek, Jack, Jane, Griffin, Mallory Katherine, Maxwell, Lila, Josie Shay, Marianne Katherine, Harlan, Aaliyah, Sterling, Pauline, and Dallas. His passing leaves us deeply saddened but rejoicing in the comfort that he will be reunited with his “honey” and all those who left before him. The family will receive visitors at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd., Livonia on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 from 1pm-9pm with funeral service to follow on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) Please share a memory of Dan on his Tribute Wall.