Daniel Courtney Jr.

Daniel (Dan) James Courtney Jr., also fondly known as DJ, 88, of Attleboro, MA and longtime resident of Red Hook, NY, passed away on August 16, 2024. Dan was born on November 21, 1935, in Somerville, MA, the son of the late Daniel James Courtney Sr and Mary (Walsh) Courtney and grandson of the late Walter and Mary Walsh (“Mum and Gramp”).

Dan served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard from 1957-1962 earning specialty as a Sharpshooter and completing the Aircraft Mechanic course. A proud graduate of Somerville High School, Boston University and Regents University, Dan was a lifelong learner with an impressive library of nutrition, religion, history and aviation representation.

At 16 years of age, Dan took his first solo flight in a J3 Cub, and thus began his greatest passion: Aviation. He flew out of innumerable airports throughout his lifetime with home bases being at Hanscom Airforce Base with Executive Flyers Aviation, Tew-Mac and Kingston-Rhinecliff airports. He admirably earned the ratings of Mechanic, Flight Instructor, Ground Instructor, Flight Engineer and Airline Transport Pilot. He served as a flight instructor to hundreds of students throughout his lifetime and was often regarded as one of the hardest and best in class instructors, holding his students to the highest safety standards. In addition, Dan served as an active member of the Civil Air Patrol in NY.

His work ethic started at the young age of 12 where he worked at his father’s gas station, followed by an impressive and diverse career as a Civil Engineer for IBM for 33 years and pilot for Northeast Airlines for 3 years. In the early 1990’s Dan started his second career as the Aviation teacher at BOCES where he created the first vocational technical aviation program in the state of New York for high school juniors and seniors to attain their private pilot licenses under his direction. This stint was the highlight of his career, and he took great pride in the future successes of his students and left a lasting impression on many to this day.

Dan met his wife of 58 years, Lena (Fossella) Courtney, at the Caravan Club in Revere, MA. A love story for the ages, Lena and Dan were avid dancers and often spotted in North Shore clubs doing the waltz, foxtrot and cha cha. Their lives together were enriched by their two daughters and families, Karen (Courtney) Todino and Michael Todino and their sons Matthew and Joshua, and Leslie Courtney and Patrick Gallagher and their children Logan and Malena.

Dan retired in 2011 but filled his days with riding his bike, walking on the beach in Narragansett, RI, traveling to many destinations including Italy, Bermuda and Florida, and spoiling his grandchildren. It was well understood by all that when he was around, no one else had a chance to hold, feed or occupy the time of his grandchildren, who brought him endless joy.

Dan was predeceased by his wife Lena (Fossella) Courtney, parents Daniel James Courtney, Sr and Mary (Walsh) Courtney, his grandparents Walter and Mary Walsh, his beloved twin brother, James Leo Courtney, as well as many dear family members and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to honor and remember Dan by gathering for a visitation on Friday, Aug. 23 from 9-10:30 a.m., at Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck Street, Attleboro followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro, MA, and culminating in burial at the North Purchase Cemetery in Attleboro, MA.