Daniel Sefton

Daniel Loren Sefton, 67 (affectionately known as "Danny" to family and friends), died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, the day before his favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. He was born Daniel Loren Haynes to Mary Joe Haynes (Wood) and Frank Loren Haynes on Aug. 18, 1943, in Corpus Christi, Texas, while Frank was stationed there during World War II. After Frank's death, Dan's mother married Roy Arthur Sefton in April 1947, and Dan took the last name Sefton. Frank was killed in action in October 1944 in a Dauntless Dive Bomber from the Carrier Intrepid, attacking a Japanese installation in occupied Formosa. This was to have a profound lifelong impact upon Dan. He became a very paternal and protective older brother, and was the "glue" that has held his siblings together ever since. It also gave Dan a very real sense of the fragility and brevity of life. It left him concerned that he would not live long, and that he should take "life's full measure" (as he was fond of saying) each day. Dan graduated from Lake Oswego High School in 1961. He attended Portland State University and the University of Southern Mississippi before transferring to the University of Southern California, where he graduated in 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree in cinema. Dan demonstrated early acting and writing skills. He made home movies in the 1950s, and was an avid actor in plays in high school, college and community theatre in Los Angeles and Big Bear, Calif., and Corvallis. After college, Dan began a career of writing professionally as a staff writer at the Automobile Club of Southern California in Los Angeles. He moved from there to the Bay Area, where he was named the public relations director for Chevron Chemical at the tender age of 23. He was named to Who's Who in the West, and was also tapped to participate in the President's Council on Juvenile Delinquency (an honor he found most ironic coming so shortly after some of his high school and college high jinks). He moved back to the Southland in 1969, and worked for AvEd Systems and then Trainex, writing police and hospital training films. After AvEd, Dan launched the PR Division of Bryan Hardwick & Associates (a Southern California advertising firm) as the director. He subsequently created a PR division as the vice president and PR director for Molnar and Associates, another Southern California advertising firm. Dan launched his own firm, Sefton Public Relations, in 1973. Dan was a frequent public speaker, and was at various times the president of the Los Angeles Publicity Club, the USC Cinema Alumni Guild and several Shakespeare societies. He specialized in restaurant and real estate PR for nearly 20 years before ultimately returning to his first love, cinema. Dan wrote and played a minor role in the film "James Dean: Live Fast, Die Young," which starred Casper Van Dien and was the last movie in which Robert Mitchum played a role. Dan also authored several other scripts, "The Wildest Summer Ever" (a 1960s beach-style movie), "Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula" (a comedy horror film), "Partners" and "Imelda" (a biography of the late Philippine president's wife). While those who knew Dan were deeply saddened by his sudden and unexpected passing, it is difficult to remember him without laughter, as he had a renowned sense of humor, and his quick repartee and antics are often retold by friends and at family gatherings. Dan was the moderator of an "Evening with Kirk Douglas" in the 1980s when Mr. Douglas was asked about "Lonely are the Brave" and the climactic scene at the end when Douglas and his horse were struck by a truck. Mr. Douglas commented with some disappointment that no one ever expressed concern about him, but everyone asked about the horse. Dan quipped, "And besides, he was a stunt horse," at which Mr. Douglas burst into laughter and said, "Thanks! I'm going to use that the next time I'm asked!" And he did. Dan also enjoyed announcing to a room full of 250 guests at his parents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1997 that he was their eldest child, and that he had attended and well remembered the wedding. This sent gasps through the audience before he explained his role as stepson and ring-bearer at the 1947 ceremony. You never knew what Dan might say or do, but you knew it would be unique, clever and funny. In later years, Dan cared for his parents in Corvallis, and enjoyed traveling when time permitted. He had frequently traveled to Hawaii, and went to Europe in 1972 and again in 2002. He also attended the USC vs. Oklahoma national championship game in January 2005 in Miami, the Cream reunion concert in May 2005 in London's Royal Albert Hall, and the USC vs. Texas national championship game in January 2006. Dan was also a frequent visitor of New Orleans. Dan was preceded in death by his father, Frank Loren Haynes (October 1944); his mother, Mary Joe Sefton (August 2007); and his stepfather, Roy A. Sefton (July 2005). He is survived by his loving siblings, Lloyce Sefton Jaunkalnietis (Pleasanton, Calif.), Donald H. Sefton (Fallon, Nev.) and Robert Wayne Sefton (Deerfield Beach, Fla.). Dan will be interred with his parents at Oak Lawn Memorial Park, Corvallis. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.

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Daniel Sefton

August 18, 1943 - November 24, 2010