Obituaries
There is a light that will never go out...
It is with deepest regret that we announce the following death:
Danny Cormack
A tribute by Jim McDaid, National President
We were all greatly saddened at the news of Danny's death on 21st February 2007 after a long illness in which he bravely battling with lung cancer resulting from working with asbestos when he was in the Army.
I met Danny 8 years ago when I came to National Council as the new President of Leeds Central Council. We soon became firm friends and I recognised in Danny a man of integrity, humility and a deep spiritual understanding. A man who enjoyed a joke and could tell a good story something to do with his being a warm friendly Geordie!
Because of these qualities I appointed Danny as my Vice-President and in that capacity Danny has been a great support to me and he has deputised for me at a number of International Meetings of the Society where again he made a huge impression and won many friends.
I received the following e-mail from Brian O'Reilly the National President of SVP Ireland, who was attending a SVP meeting in Africa when he received the news of Danny's death:
"I have only received your sad news this morning. I sent Danny a letter before I left for Africa . I always enjoyed Danny's company and will have very fond memories of him. We both shared an interest in Western movies but with Danny it was a passion! He was a lovely man. He will be in our prayers here in Africa . Please pass my sympathy to his family and friends".
Danny was also the Trustees' representative on the VMP Committee. I received the following e-mail from Sr. Maureen Tinkler, Chair of the VMP Committee:
"As a trustee of the Vincentian Family in Britain , Danny gave 100% support to all things Vincentian whether it be the practical needs of vulnerable people; management affairs; formation in Vincentian spirituality or justice and peace issues. For the past 18 months, because of his illness, I have personally missed Danny's warm, wise and brotherly presence and support at so many VMP events and meetings. Mass is being offered for Danny at the request of the VMP in the Daughters of Charity parish in Darlington on Friday."
Danny was a member of the Society in Winchester for the past 13 years. In that time he made many friends amongst the people he visited on behalf of the Society. When I visited Danny a couple of weeks before his death he told me of the many people whom he had visited who in turn came to visit him. He was very appreciative of such kindness and he drew great comfort from the efforts made to visit him.
St Peter's Church in Winchester was full to capacity for Danny's Funeral Mass, with Danny's family, Vincentian friends, parishioners and the people whom Danny visited as a SVP member.
We thank God for having known Danny, for the World is a better place his having been here. He has now gone to his Reward and I pray that he will be an advocate for the Society in England & Wales in Heaven and through his intercession Graces will flow to help the Society, which he loved so much, flourish and grow in the years ahead.
Please remember Danny and his family in your prayers and at your Conference and Council Meetings. Danny was a man loved by all who met him, a true Vincentian who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.