Daniel “Danno” McPherson, 65, passed away on June 25 in Eugene, Oregon due to complications from multiple sclerosis. Danno is survived by his mother, Rosemarie Carballo, of Eugene, his brother, Michael McPherson, also of Eugene, two nephews, Ian and Galen McPherson, and many close friends whom he considered family. Danno’s father Gordon preceded him in death in 1990. Danno was born May 26, 1961 to Gordon and Rosemarie McPherson in Santa Monica, California. The family moved to Placerville, California in 1967 and to San Luis Obispo, California in 1969. He graduated from San Luis Obispo Senior High School in 1979. He enjoyed spending time at the beach with friends and spent many joyful days body surfing at Avila Beach and other central California beaches. As a boy, he also visited his cousins Mark, Vicki, Jackie, and Paulette in Menlo Park, California, and had many fond memories of time spent together.

Danno moved to central Oregon in 1979 where his lifelong love of the great outdoors blossomed, living on the Little Deschutes River and among the forests of central Oregon. He quickly embraced rafting and kayaking, and loved hiking the trails of the Cascade Range and beyond. Danno briefly attended Oregon State University, then transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he became a lifelong Duck fan. Danno continued pursuing his love of the outdoors while at the U of O, rafting the McKenzie River, exploring the Oregon coast, and camping in Eastern Oregon. At the U of O, he developed deep and lasting friendships that continued his entire life. Danno shared many adventures with those he loved, including rafting, cycling, and seeking out the perfect swimming hole.

In college, Danno worked as a waiter where he learned the intricacies of that trade and found similar work after graduating with a degree in psychology in 1985. Danno also sold college textbooks, traveling around the country and visiting schools to make sales. However, his first love was the outdoors and while he took his work seriously, it was always a way to fund his many adventures. Beyond the adventures, Danno was an extremely kind soul and a loyal friend. He always had a ready ear for anyone needing support and he was never judgmental. Danno also loved reading and watching classic movies. After college Danno lived primarily in Salem and Corvallis, Oregon. He lived briefly on Bainbridge Island, where he worked as a waiter and kayaked in his free time. In 1986 he bicycled the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and again in 2000 bicycled the same highway from Coos Bay Oregon to San Francisco. Kayaking and trail running became his favorite activities, and he enjoyed many days (and some evenings, when he lost track of time) on the Willamette, Luckiamute, Deschutes, McKenzie, and other rivers. He did many of these trips alone because nobody else was crazy enough to go as far and as hard as Danno did. Often he would drop off his bicycle at the take-out on the river and then drive back to the put-in and ride his bike back to his car at the end of the trip. Sadly, Danno’s body started failing him in his early 30s—not only from the degenerative effects of MS but also from the beginnings of vision loss. Danno, ever the fighter, just ran and paddled harder to try to keep the afflictions at bay. Even as he tried many different doctors and treatments that provided little relief, and even as he eventually accepted that his body was no longer capable of engaging in the activities he loved, nevertheless he never complained or felt sorry for himself. His indefatigable spirit was a source of immense inspiration to his family and friends.

Danno running up a mountain trail, cycling down a mountain pass, paddling the Deschutes River,, or quoting a line from The Catcher in the Rye will always be among the many fond memories of his family and friends. Rest easy Danno—you were one of a kind.

Donations in Danno’s memory can be made to either The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Foundation Fighting Blindness.