LaGATTA, Daniel P. Geotechnical Engineers Inc. Founder 79, a longtime resident of Winchester for 53 years passed away peacefully at the Elizabeth de Rham Hospice Home on December 24th 2016. He is survived by his loving wife Mary of 55 years and their two sons Mark LaGatta and his wife Susan of Moorestown, NJ and Christopher LaGatta and his wife Laurel of Winchester. He also leaves his grandchildren Anne, David, and Henry LaGatta and Katherine and Benjamin LaGatta. Dear brother of Irma Pallone of Niagra Falls, New York and also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Daniel grew up in Niagra Falls, New York before attending Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute for Civil Engineering where he earned a BS in 1960 and met his wife Mary who was studying Nursing at Indiana State.
After marriage, Dan and Mary set off to Denver as he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation as a practicing geotechnical engineer. After two years, they traveled to Harvard University where he obtained a Master's Degree in 1965 and his PhD in 1970 in the Division of Engineering and Applied Physics.
Daniel and four of his Harvard colleagues founded Geotechnical Engineers Inc. in Winchester in 1970. The company specialized in geotechnical and environmental engineering, changing their name to GEI Consultants Inc. and growing into a national consulting company.
Dan actively participated in civic life in Winchester. He served on the Board of Directors for the Winchester Hospital, as President of the Winchester Scholarship Foundation, as a Corporator of the Winchester Savings Bank, and former member of the Winchester Rotary.
Dan loved to fish for trout, especially the big ones. He was a member of Fly Casters of Boston and expert family guide to sons, grandchildren, and friends.
Dan was a member of the Winchester Country Club where he enjoyed many years of golfing, laughing, and curling.
A funeral service will be held at The Parish of Epiphany on Church Street in Winchester, Thursday December 29th at 11am followed by a reception and lunch at The Winchester Country Club. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dan's memory may be made to the Winchester Hospital Center for Cancer Care, payable to the Winchester Hospital Foundation, 41 Highland Ave, Winchester MA 01890. www.winchesterhospital.org Lane Funeral Home Winchester (781) 729-2580
Published in The Boston Globe from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28, 2016