Obituary of Daniel J. Treacy

Daniel J. Treacy, a resident of Salt Point and former lifelong Highland Falls resident, entered into rest on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie. He was 47. Son of the late Alfred J. and Rita Gorham Treacy, he was born November 19, 1966, the youngest of seven children. He was a parishioner of the Church of the Holy Innocents in Highland Falls. Daniel grew up with autism and was non-verbal. When Dan was 25 years old, his mother discovered he could communicate using facilitated communication. He had a passion for learning and never stopped advocating for individuals with special needs. For several years, Dan had been a guest presenter at SUNY New Paltz, explaining the challenges facing non-verbal students with autism to Special Education teaching students. Dan loved American History, especially the American Revolution, and Dan was a true patriot. He was a proud to be a liberal Democrat, who was socially conscious and voted regularly. He has a gentle, compassionate soul but he was outspoken supporter for the rights and freedoms of the disabled, especially those without a voice. Dan also enjoyed poetry, classical music, good food, and visiting with his best friend, Wally. He deeply treasured time spent with his many friends and family members because Dan believed that, "Each day is a gift from God." Dan is survived by his siblings, Mary Burton of New Windsor, Rosanne Storms and her husband, Edward of Cornwall-on-Hudson, Timothy Treacy and his wife, Viola of Boca Raton, Florida, Christine Treacy of Cornwall, Elizabeth Nytko and her husband Frederick of Highland Falls and Jacqueline Baisley and her husband, Peter Rutkowski of Wappingers Falls; many nieces and nephews; as well as his Greystone Programs Family. Family will receive their friends on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 and on Thursday, June 5 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 401 Main Street, Highland Falls, NY 10928. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 6 at the Church of the Holy Innocents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Institute of Communication and Inclusion at Syracuse University, or to the Greystone Endowment Fund. For directions or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.