
February 19, 2026
It is with great sadness that I want to share the news about the passing of Dan “Danny” Maracich. He passed peacefully on Monday, February 16th surrounded by his three children, Sam, Riley, and Anna and with the help of hospice.
Danny was diagnosed in the Fall of 2023 with end stage sarcoma, a rare, aggressive soft tissue cancer. He handled the next 2 ½ years with an extremely positive attitude and dignity. He was very well prepared for the inevitable and in his words in a text on December 30th he wrote, “I’m excited about the next chapter…not in a hurry to go, but I’ve worn out what is left…”
As the word has spread, classmates have commented:
- “He was a light in our world”
- “Danny was one of the good ones”
- “Such a great and nice man”
- “Always smiling”
- “He was truly an inspiration”
- “I think of him as the cute blonde hair, blue-eyed guy in high school”
- “He had the greatest smile and always made you feel like he was so happy to see you, even if he just saw you yesterday”
- “Danny will be missed”
At Danny’s request there will be no memorial service or Celebration of Life. If anyone is in the Phoenix area from March 12-16, a group of our classmates are gathering for a variety of activities, and we plan to celebrate him in our own way. Let us know if you can join us by contacting millerp747@gmail.com.
Please keep Sam, Riley, and Anna in your prayers as they navigate this difficult time.
God speed Danny! You are loved and you will always be remembered.
Pam Miller

Mike Poindexter
RIP, God Bless 🙏🏼Mark Early
Other classmates knew Dan better at Kennedy than myself, though I always thought well of him because every person at the time or since, who knew Dan, held him in the very highest regard and felt blessed to call Dan their friend. When we grieve that time on this earth is just too short, it is in memory of individuals like Dan Maracich, who left family and friends far too soon.
Those close to Dan, may choose to remember him in the ways they knew him best. We all have a few precious photos ... that abide.
-- mark early (class of 1974)
Kennedy High School Science Class
Kennedy Reunion 2024 with friend and Baseball teammate Joe Slye