Danilo (Danny) Villarina

October 27, 1949 - February 21, 2021

Born October 27, 1949 in Makati, Philippines; passed away on February 21, 2021, after a long illness with his beloved wife of 50 years, and family by his side. Danny is survived by his wife Eileen (Cronin), daughter Tamara, and grandchildren, Lucy, Claire and John.

Danny was the youngest of eight siblings, Alberto Villarina (Aniceta V.), Joanna Javier (Jose J.), Ricardo Villarina (Viviana V.), Rodolfo Villarina, Nemensio Villarina (Arsenia V.), Estrella Doria (Arthur D.), Rosalinda Ronan (Antonio D.). Danny is proceeded in death by his parents Ricardo and Demetria Villarina. Danny was also a beloved uncle, cousin and friend to many.

At the age of eleven in 1960, Danny immigrated from the Philippines to the United States, settling in on Clementina Street in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. He was also an altar boy at St. Patrick’s—the neighborhood church. A total city kid, he attended public schools including Everett Junior High, Galileo High School, City College of San Francisco, and UC Berkeley. In 1968, Danny met his future wife at a Girl Scouts dance; he and Eileen were together ever since then, just celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They spent twenty years living and raising their family in the Richmond District before moving to the Excelsior, where they’ve been for 25 years. His neighbors on Lisbon Street will remember his friendliness—always up for a chat with whomever walked by—and the sight of Danny caring for his yard, puttering in the garage, or washing his cars.

For eleven years, Danny took great pride in being a building maintenance technician at UCSF’s Bakar Fitness and Recreation Center at Mission Bay. Just like by his Excelsior neighbors, Danny was greatly loved by his co-workers; and Danny in turn, enjoyed the camaraderie of his colleagues and he felt deeply connected to the UCSF culture and community. He believed—and he actually could—build or fix anything. He retired from UCSF in January, 2021.

As if growing up and working in San Francisco didn’t already make him, a true ‘OG,’ then his 25 years spent driving a Yellow Cab in the city certainly does. Danny had no shortage of colorful tales of the city from the 70’s, 80’s, and early 1990’s.

Throughout all these experiences, perhaps Danny’s most important accomplishment was being a devoted family man. He loved cooking for his family and was known to say that, “I learned to cook from watching my mom in the kitchen as a child;” and then, later, “…in my sister’s Filipino restaurant.” Both he and his wife Eileen shared the travel bug and enjoyed cruises to Hawaii, Europe, and South and Central America; and with his beloved Eileen, Danny took enormous pride in their three grandchildren who will miss, and always love, their Lolo.

Donation in Danny’s memory can be made to the Valdez Charitable Foundation:

https://www.valdezfoundation.org/how-you-canhelp.html

Due to COVID guidelines, the services will be:

Vigil Service for immediately family only Monday, March 1, 2021.

A funeral mass open to all will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 10am at St. Anne’s of the Sunset Church, 850 Judah Street, San Francisco. The funeral mass may also be viewed at www.facebook.com/StAnneSF/videos. Burial services will be immediately following at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1500 Mission Road, Colma.