Daryl John DeCesare of Princess Anne, Maryland passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the age of 71 after a valiant battle.He had been in and out of PRMC and Salisbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Hospital since December 12 ,2018. He was born February 15, 1948 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. Beloved husband, father, son, brother and loyal friend, he was preceded in death by his father, Frank DeCesare. Survived by his wife, Jill of 46 and 1/2 years; daughter, Lauren DeCesare of Gudalelupe, Arizona; son, Kevin DeCesare, who along with his girlfriend, Meghan Campbell and grandson, Sawyer James DeCesare live in Selbyville, Delaware. Also, survived by his mother, Liva Gordon DeCesare of Cambridge, Maryland and a sister, Debbie DeCesareof Yuma, Arizona. Daryl's uncles: Ralph DeCesare of Yorktown, Virginia and George Gordon of Excelsior, Minnesota along with a brother-in-law living in Washington state and two sisters-in-law in Colorado and New Hampshire respectively along with their families and many cousins, nieces and nephews who were very much a part of his extended family.
Daryl and Jill met in 1966 while attending University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. They married in 1972. Daryl joined the Maryland Forest and Park service in 1973 and proudly served as a park ranger starting at Point Lookout in Southern Maryland. After a promotion to Park Administrator, the family moved to the eastern shore to enjoy Daryl's love of the water. He retired in 2003 from the park service with a rank of Captain after serving for thirty years.
Daryl was a proud and staunch supporter of the NRA – a patriot life member and a Ducks Unlimited member and wildlife advocate. He was a strong conservationist and majored as such while in college. A founding member of his much loved hunt club for over forty years, he was an avid hunter undeterred by changes in the weather. He had a thirst for knowledge and an almost instant recall at times. He loved to teach and pass on to others his seemingly innate abilities in this field. Very much a perfectionist at heart was who he was and how he lived his life. This was so important to him. He loved the water; fishing, crabbing, oystering and especially boating. He grew up with thoughts of making this special interest the perfect pastime for him. Before and after work found him many days on the water or at his pier baiting his crab pots or his trotline. As a boat owner, he could handle most emergencies. His ever ready toolbox brought him home safely several times. He loved to see the wildlife and changing seasons on 'our island'.
A favorite hobby was raising ducks and rescuing turtles – usually diamondbacks but we did have a snapper at one time. He would feed them and release them when large enough to survive. Our beloved pets: dogs Josey and LuLu and Raggs the cat miss him.
Daryl could always be found with his trusty labrador retriever at his side. He rests at peace now with his Lord; along with family members, friends and many, many loved pets who have moved on.
The family wishes to thank family and friends for their love, support, calls and well wishes. A special thank you to Pastor Jim of Antioch United Methodist Church who helped Daryl find acceptance and peace with the Lord. Weare so grateful to PRMC oncology, medical, cardiac and surgical units, the emergency room and especially Salisbury Rehabilitation and Nursing Home's medical staff, nurses, aides and the physical therapists who supported and encouraged Daryl. Bless them all.
A memorial service will be planned at a later date as Daryl wished. A donation to Coastal Hospice would be welcomed and appreciated.
Daryl served the park service is various capacities over his long career; the vast majority of those assignments included management duties. He was always and consistently a steady strong leader, a voice of reason and loyal to his supervisors and the agency mission. Success occurred everywhere he went but he never took the credit or made bold speeches about his work. He just did the job, whatever was asked of him, and kept the place running. I am proud to have worked with him and regret those times when I let him down. Of course, he never said or did anything to complain. He just kept moving forward. Rest in peace Ranger DeCesare.
Daryl was a fine guy and a great park ranger. I always enjoyed working with him and also his company at many Maryland Park Service meetings and training exercises.
My respect and prayers for a Fine Park Ranger and person. Always helpful, always doing what needed to be done, always supportive of coworkers. A great help for me when I was a new Ranger.
Daryl was my first supervisor at Gunpowder Falls State Park in 1979. His guidance helped me become a Park Ranger and guided me into the greatest career. After Daryl left GFSP and moved on with his career in DNR and the MD Park Service, I promoted and took a position as an Area Manager at Gunpowder. Daryl's supervision and leadership was instrumental and directly related to advancing my career. In 1993 when I became the Area Manager at Wye Island NRMA, Daryl once again become my direct supervisor guiding and leading me into all phases of park management. Daryl DeCesare's devotion and leadership to the mission of the MD Park Service id directly related to the successful careers of many Park Rangers. Me included. Thank you and Rest in Peace, Ranger DeCesare..
Daryl and I attended Ranger School at Catoctin Mtn. in October 1973. Our paths crossed many times in the course of our assignments with the Maryland Park Service. He was my Regional Park Manager for the Eastern Region for several years before my retirement in 1996. Daryl, May you have Fair Winds and Following Seas my friend.
Daryl and I had many skull sessions as we had offices across from one another in the Salisbury DNR Regional Service Center. But more importantly we enjoyed getting out in dove season and shaking the shot gunning rust off as the new hunting season came in. Fun times escaping the pressures of work and enjoying the outdoors that we both loved dearly.
Daryl and I attended Ranger school at Catoctin Man. in Oct 1973. we attended many meeting together. He was manager of Point Lookout and I was manager of Cedarville State Part. He was always ready to assist in any way that he could. I will always remember the good times we had. Rest in peace Daryl.
With always a gentle smile Daryl was a grand ranger and leader. May he rest in peace and condolences to his family.
I worked with Daryl at Point Lookout when I came into the Park Service in 1986. Daryl was a good teacher to a mountain boy new to salt water. My condolences to Jill and the family. Rest In Peace Daryl.
Daryl was a pleasure to work with. Always so very kind and helpful. A good man and a great Park man. My sincere sympathy to his immediate family and all who love him. He had a great smile and a kind heart.
Daryl was an amazing guy, filled with so many skills it is hard to even remember them all. In short, there was nothing he could not do.
He was totally committed to his career but the one thing I think of first when he pops into my head is that he had this crazy ability to completely ignore harsh winter weather! On more than one occasion as we shared a duck blind standing in 12 inches of semi-frozen salt marsh in 20 mph winds he was totally in his comfort zone, not bothered a bit while everyone else was ready to pack it in! Just amazing… "Go get em Daryl! I hear there's no limit in heaven!
Darryl interviewed and hired me to be a seasonal ranger at Gunpowder in 1978. As I got to know him, I always felt I was a friend and coworker rather than a subordinate. I recall him often asking me what I thought even though I was just a young kid trying to learn the ropes. Later in our careers we would enjoy a beer or two at the Bowers Center and talk about hunting and fishing, he always had an interesting perspective and lived life to its fullest. It is sad to lose touch with those we once worked beside, shoulder to shoulder, having now drifted our separate ways. Sadder still is to read an obituary of a life well lived and a friend and coworker well liked.