Daniel Sotomayor, 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 3, 2023. He was surrounded by his wife, two adult children, and two siblings.

Dan, or "Danny," as he was endearingly called by family, was one of 10 children born to Robert and Carlotta (Rodriguez) Sotomayor. Both Robert's and Carlotta's families were pioneer homesteaders in Tucson, with the Sotomayor family's roots tracing back to the mid-1870s. The family cultivated hundreds of acres of farmland on Tucson's Northwest side where they grew a variety of produce and raised livestock.

Dan graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1964 and studied for 2 years at the University of Arizona until he was drafted by the US Army. He entered OCS in May 1967, received his rank as 2nd Lieutenant, and served one tour in Vietnam. Upon his return from overseas, Dan was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where he met and married Elizabeth. Dan was honorably relieved from active duty in October 1970 as a Captain, having received several honors and medals, including a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with V Device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, 2 O/S Bars,  Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Dan completed his education, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

An entrepreneur at heart, Dan built and ran a successful event and catering business in El Paso. He started small, renting out his building for special events. Upon his retirement, his business had grown to a full-service event and catering company that branched out to include hospitality services for off-site events as well as several long-term education and government catering contracts. Dan ultimately sold his business and returned to Tucson where he built his dream home after more than 20 successful years in El Paso. If you knew Dan, you know he didn't know what the word "retirement" meant. Once back home in Tucson, Dan and his son, Joseph, built another successful business together – a mobile food truck that is the perfect mix of Dan's business savvy and Joseph's passion for food.

The crowning achievement in Dan's life, however, came when he assumed the role of Papa to his three grandchildren, Christopher, Charlotte, and Macy. There was no one prouder to be a grandfather than Dan. He often referred to his grandkids as "my reasons for living," and he would never hesitate to brag about their achievements to anyone who would listen. He loved spending time with them, and doted on them constantly when they spent their summers with him and Elizabeth at "Camp Mummenpapa."

Dan was reunited in Heaven with his firstborn daughter, Blanca Aida, his parents, and siblings Richard, Carmen, and Rosemary. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, son, Joseph (LeighAnn) of Tucson, daughter, Christina of Los Angeles, brothers, Robert R. and Rene of Tucson, Ernest of New York City, sisters Cecilia Medina and Aida Sotomayor of Tucson, and Lillian Becker of Las Vegas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dan's name to the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity which provides no-cost mental health services and other critical programs to post-9/11 veterans - https://tinyurl.com/y9dmra9r, or to the Gary Sinise Foundation, a program that honors our veterans, first responders, their families and those in need - https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate .