Obituary of Daniel Joseph McGrath

Daniel J. McGrath died on July 8, 2023, in Richmond, VA. He was born on March 20, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Daniel J. McGrath, first Consul General of Ireland to Chicago, IL, and Mary Margaret O'Gallagher. He suffered the death of his father in 1942 and his mother in 1947; he and his younger brother, Michael, then became members of the family of his uncle and aunt, Kieran and Anastasia O'Gallagher. Dan lived with them through his high school years and attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in the archdiocese of Chicago, IL. He advanced to college studies for priestly formation at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL, where he won his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy. In a vocational decision, Dan left the seminary and entered the U.S. Army Reserve. After that military stint he entered upon a career in advertising. Having a keen mathematical and analytical mind, he grew quickly in his career, with concentration in the realms of print and electronic-communications media. Dan soon became expert in strategic purchase-positioning for such major clients as Whirlpool, Anheuser-Busch, the U.S. Dairy Association, and M&M/Mars candy company. He advanced in his career as a senior advertising executive, successfully serving with several major advertising agencies, including McCann Erickson, J. Walter Thompson, and D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles. His reputation as an authority in media matters earned him tangential renown, and he achieved distinction on the Board of Directors of National Review magazine.

His successes in the realm of advertising were always second to his Catholic faith and his loving family. He was a fixture at daily Mass throughout his life and a catechism teacher for many years. He also devoted significant time to service, volunteering at the Mary Manning Walsh Home, various hospitals, and Regis and Xavier High Schools.

Dan is survived by his beautiful, loving wife, Kaye (DeMetz), whom he met in the mid-1960's. Their diverse career paths affected a continual but long-distance romance, until they at last married in 1976. Dan’s career took him to New York City where he and Kaye were blessed with and raised their two loving sons, Stephen (45) and Patrick (43). Dan is further survived by the many members of his extended family and innumerable friends.   Dan spent the last year of his life near Richmond, VA, with Kaye, Patrick, his daughter-in-law Laura, and his six grandchildren: Amelie, Max, Therese, Jude, John Vianney, and Evangeline.


Visitation at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lords Valley, PA, on Tuesday, July 18th, 10 - 11 a.m. Funeral Mass to follow at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sisters of Life (https://sistersoflife.org/donate/).

Arrangements were made by the Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 W Harford St., Milford, PA 18337 (www.stroyanfuneralhome.com).