Daniel Edward Power, 1929-2026

Daniel Edward Power, 96, formerly of Boston, Lexington, and Orleans, Massachusetts, died on May 2 at White Oak Cottages in Westwood. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Dan was born on June 5, 1929, to John and Christina Power of Boston. He was the first child born in the United States after his parents emigrated from Limerick, Ireland, and the family grew to include seven sons and one daughter. All of Dan's brothers predeceased him; he is survived by his sister, Barbara Higgins of Townsend.

Growing up in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Dan was an excellent student who attended Boston Latin School and then Harvard University, graduating in 1951. In the late 1950s, he was introduced by dear friends to Betty Dunn at Symphony Hall in Boston, and they married in November 1960. Settling in Lexington, Dan and Betty raised four daughters: Hilary Power of Richmond, CA; Jane Neilson of Wellesley; Rachel Power of Plymouth; and Christine Power Thielman of Arlington.

Dan had a successful career in public accounting, eventually founding a small firm with his partner, George Rowe. Rowe & Power later merged with Meahl McNamara, and that firm was acquired by the national accounting firm Touche Ross (now Deloitte). As a result, Dan became a partner in what was then one of the "Big Eight" firms.

Throughout his career, Dan's greatest professional satisfaction came from mentoring younger colleagues, some of whom remained in touch with him until the end of his life. He was especially close to his brother Bobby, who died in 1995; they spent frequent time together in Boston and at one point worked out of the same building on Broad Street.

In his spare time, Dan was an active supporter of the arts, serving on the boards of both the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and the Opera Company of Boston.

Dan and Betty moved to Beacon Hill in 1985 and enjoyed a full and active life that included concerts at Symphony Hall and many other venues. They also loved spending time at their home on Cape Cod, often hosting their children and grandchildren. Betty died on November 2, 2025, just before their 65th wedding anniversary.

A devoted father and grandfather, Dan provided countless hours of child care when his grandchildren were young. His nine grandchildren include Daniel (and his wife, Marisa Borchardt), Samantha, and Grace Neilson; Alexandra, Andrew, and Eric Steinberg; and Aidan, Sophie, and Jack Thielman. He is also survived by two devoted sons-in-law, David Neilson and Jeff Thielman, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Brigid Parish in Lexington on Friday, June 5, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Donations in Dan's memory may be made to the Friends of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, honoring both his love of classical music and his devotion to Betty, who changed his life forever when they met at Symphony Hall ( https://give.bso.org/w1ieqz ). Private interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.