Statement in Honor of Daniel H. Case III
June 27, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Daniel H. Case III, who died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loved ones, early on June 26th. Dan was a talented businessman, a lifelong scholar, and a devoted father and husband; I was proud to call him my friend. His passing leaves a great void in our lives.
Dan was only 44 years old. He was compassionate, but cancer is not. It strikes tragically, without warning or reason. His future was staggeringly full of possibility, and I am so saddened to think of how much more Dan had to experience and give.
Dan was a brilliant man. He was a top graduate of Princeton University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. We marveled at his intelligence, his insight, and his ability to see problems in new ways. His mind was always the mind of a scholar, deeply fascinated by the complexity of finance and economics. He possessed a sharp and subtle intellect that was uniquely suited to business but never confined by it.
Dan was a star in the business world, rising to become one of the most important business leaders in the nation. As Chairman and CEO of Hambrecht & Quist during the height of the new technology boom, Dan helped to finance hundreds of companies, including Genentech, Netscape, Adobe, and other leaders in the high technology field. Under his leadership, Hambrecht & Quist grew to become a powerful financial player, providing resources and guidance for emerging companies in a wide range of technology areas. In 1999, Dan presided over Hambrecht & Quist when it was acquired by JPMorgan Chase. After the merger, Dan continued to advise and fund emerging companies.
Dan's intelligence was only surpassed by his character. His friends and family respected him for his foresight and genius but loved him for his kindness and modesty. He was a caring husband, father, son, and brother. He gave back to the community in countless ways, donating generously to a number of community organizations, including the San Francisco Exploratorium, the San Francisco Ballet, and the United Way. Always committed to education and learning, Dan worked with other technology industry leaders to improve public education and played an important role in passing Proposition 39, the California school bonds initiative. After he was diagnosed with cancer, he founded ABC2, which funds research aimed at finding a cure for brain cancer.
To his wife Stacey, to his four children, Alexander, Winston, John Daniel,
and Charlotte, to his parents, Dan and Carol, to his brothers Steve and Jeff,
and his sister Carin, I extend my deepest sympathies. I hope that it is a comfort
to Dan's family that so many people share their loss and are praying for them
at this sad time.