The charismatic Dan Lee George passed away in Santa Barbara on Jan. 4, the first Sunday of 2026, at age 75 following a hemorrhagic stroke sustained on Dec. 26, 2025.

The sudden loss of Dan has saddened his family, friends, colleagues and neighbors, who will miss his infectious energy and enthusiasm for all that life offered.

Dan was born June 3, 1950 in Ohio to parents Floyd and Carolyn George, who predeceased him. Dan and his brother David grew up in Toledo and attended local schools.

Along with a plethora of cousins, he cavorted at their grandparents’ rural farm during summers and holidays, always savoring the outdoors.

Dan attended Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio, then moved to Ontario, Canada, in 1971, working in several challenging technical settings while living in a very remote homestead.

Dan came to Santa Barbara for a vacation to visit his childhood friend Jim in 1976, loved it, and moved here permanently in 1977.

He was first employed as a carpenter for JW Bailey Construction, eventually starting his own general contracting company, building from the ground up and remodeling hundreds of houses in the area.

Dan was active with the Santa Barbara Contractors Association (SBCA) for 25 years from 1989-2014, and served as president twice. His last working gig was with Pueblo Construction as part of a team he loved.

Dan was an outdoors person and an adventurer. He sailed, ran, swam, biked, mountain climbed and trekked, fished, gardened, kayaked, and star gazed.

With all the California “Fourteeners” under his belt, Dan’s last major mountain climb was the Matterhorn in Switzerland.

Dan was also an animal person and generously loved his many animals throughout their lives.

Dan is survived by Nancy, his wife of 43 years; brother David (Rita); son by first marriage Casey Whitfield (Vicky); nieces Lauren (Shawn) and Ivana (Shane); cousins; too many good friends to name; and Tommycat.

Donations are welcome to the local animal welfare organizations Dan supported throughout his life resqcats.org, asapcats.org, care4paws.org, or the charity of choice.