Daniel L. Banyard

Daniel Lee Banyard (Dan) of Sullivan, OH, died on Wednesday, March 20. He was 68. He was born on April 4, 1951 in Cleveland , OH, the son of James B. and Marjory J. (Melhuish) Banyard who died March 2010 and June 2013, respectively. He grew up in Parma and North Royalton and attended EE Root High School in North Royalton until he enlisted in the Army in July 1969. During the Vietnam War he serviced trucks in Okinawa and was honorably discharged as a Private 2 in 1972. He received his GED after his discharge. In 1973 he was hired as a millwright at Jones & Laughlin (later LTV) Steel and joined the United Steel Workers AFL-CIO District 1, He was instrumental in the preservation of the small brick building that houses the Acelor Mittal Steel Heritage Center, part of the Cleveland Metroparks Steelyard Commons. He was proudest of the years (1998-2000) he spent as an organizer for the Steel Workers where, in addition to his organizing activities, he retained custody of the bullhorn and the USW inflatable blimp. He retired in March 2012. A lifelong avid motorcyclist, he was a member of several bike clubs. He is survived by his sisters, Bonni Leu Banyard, Kerhonkson NY and Sherry Spencer, Middleburg Heights OH, her husband, Garry Spencer and Danny’s nephews, Adam (Rose Sengenberger) Spencer, New York, NY and Shane (Erin) Spencer, Middleburg Heights. He also leaves behind Ruth Speer, his companion of 23 years and their dog Whizzer. Also left behind is his “stepdaughter” Samantha Fitzgerald of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Private interment will be held at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery (Rittman) on Monday, April 8 with a Memorial Service to be held later in the summer on a date to be announced. Please check www.clevelandcremation.com for updates. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to Habitat for Humanity.