Daniel Hill McCahon

Daniel Hill McCahon, better known as Dan McCann, passed away Aug. 14, 2018.

Dan was a street smart Irish charmer with an extremely witty sense of humor. Dan moved to Sandpoint in 1979 and lived on Lake Street until his final day. He loved women, jazz (particularly Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane,) cheap gin on the rocks, bright colors, art and design, Molly, Annika, and Juliet, big city life, and his small city neighborhood. Dan served as the Mayor of Lake Street for 30 years. He is known for big front porch laughs, yelling “slow down” at speeding cars, and the creation of colorful, clever “slow down” signs along Lake Street. In fact, we believe Dan was specifically called out for this in the song “Down-town” by Mackle-more (watch the video.) Dan had zero tolerance for racism, Trump, Kenny G, poor grammar, and being interrupted. He was a key character in the fabric of Sandpoint and will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Born on December 23rd, 1940 in White Plains, New York. Dan moved to San Francisco as a young man. He was a self-taught cinematographer and producer/director who began his career at the young age of 17 in the mail room of a large ad agency and worked his way to a desk job quickly. Dan had a keen eye and went on to win an Academy Award for the documentary Who are the Debolts and Where Did They Get 19 Kids. Other productions with Dan’s influence include Yosemite: the Fate of Heaven, commercial projects for Nike, Lenny Bruce: Without Tears, Sing Faster: The Stage Hands’ Ring Cycle and Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water, a documentary adaptation of the book by Mark Reisner, a short film on Sandpoint called Caviar & Corn Dogs (check it out on You Tube), and many more.

Dan is survived by his daughter Molly McCahon, granddaughters Annika Hinds and Juliet Jennings, his close friend and ex-wife Sharon McCahon, his sister Kathy Magnuson, niece Sally and nephew David, his close friends on Lake St and surrounds, the Super 1 coffee clan and many friends and characters throughout Sandpoint.

A Celebration of Dan’s life will be held Sunday, August 19 at his very cool home at 418 Lake St from 5-7. If you are one of the many who were lucky enough to know Dan and laugh with him, please join us. If you feel inclined to bring a pot luck item please do so, otherwise just bring your memories.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Dan’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.