Deacon Edward J. Danko

Deacon Edward J. Danko of Ocean View, DE and formerly of Bowie, MD passed away on March 31, 2023 at Cadia Health Renaissance in Millsboro, DE in hospice care at the age of 87 after complications from surgery.

He was born on January 30, 1936 in Windber, PA to the late Joseph A. and Anna Danko. He is a graduate of Windber High School, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and an ordained Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church.

Ed worked as an Air Traffic Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration at Huntsville Tri-State Airport, when he met his future wife, Jeanne, who also worked there. Ed and Jeanne were married at Sacred Heart Church in Huntington, WV on September 7, 1959. Three months later, Ed was transferred by the Federal Government to Newport News, VA. A succession of moves followed which eventually brought them to Bowie, MD in 1966 where Ed began his successful career with NASA. He worked for decades in management in Network Operations at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where he was part of many launch teams that included the Apollo moon missions in the 1960s and 1970s. His name is listed on monuments in the Space Walk of Fame in Titusville, FL, each for his contributions to Project Gemini, the Apollo Program, and the U.S. Space Shuttle Program. Towards the end of his career, he worked at Ford Aerospace and then Lockheed Martin in data system engineering. In conjunction with his full-time job, he developed an interest in photography and had a successful wedding photography business. Additionally, he and Jeanne were jointly asked to photograph and video ordinations of priests in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC as well as take professional portraits of newly appointed bishops. Little did he know this would foreshadow his own journey to the Basilica. Ed was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church on August 26, 2000, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Deacon Ed served as Permanent Deacon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bowie, MD and, later, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach, DE. During his ministry, he touched many lives, baptized many babies, and buried many faithful. He ministered to the incarcerated, the homebound and the poor, and began a bereavement support group.  Deacon Ed was also a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Ocean City Council 9053 and, before moving to Delaware in 2005, was a member of the Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart Council 2577 in Bowie, MD.

He retired as a permanent deacon in 2016 at age 81 to dedicate everything he had to the loving care of his wife Jeanne, until her death from dementia on January 4, 2023. 

He is survived by his four children, Diane Blair of Gambrills, MD, Edward Danko, Jr. and his wife, Laurie, of Bowie, MD, Catherine Horn and her husband, Dave, of Fuquay Varina, NC, and Carol Keane of Jefferson, MD; Ten grandchildren, Teresa Hallman, Christina Kane, Bradley Keane, Marie Blair, Elizabeth Danko, Matthew Blair, John Danko, Michelle Blair, Joseph Danko, and Melissa Blair. He is also survived by his brother, Joseph Danko, Jr. and his wife, Frances, of Saylorsburg, PA.

There will be two services held. The first will take place in Bethany Beach, DE on Saturday, April 22, 2023. There will be a viewing at 10 am followed by a Live-Streamed Mass at 11 am. These will both take place at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE. Live-stream can be viewed at https://stannbb.org/about-us/events/mass-schedule/

The second service will be held in Bowie, MD consisting of a viewing on Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 3-5 pm at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD 20715 and the Funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 11 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 16501 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Vincent De Paul’s Society at St Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. The society’s goal is to ensure those impacted by poverty have the skills, resources, and opportunities to achieve their full potential.

You can donate by a check made out to:

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Ann Bethany Beach Conference, 35764 Atlantic Avenue, PO Box 879, Ocean View, DE  19970. On the note line please state “In Memory of Deacon Ed Danko”.

Or to donate online, go to, https://stannbb.org/organizations/social-concerns/st-vincent-depaul/st-vincent-de-paul-donations/

 In the notes section, please state "Donation is for SVDP St Ann’s Bethany Beach Conference in Memory of Deacon Edward Danko" (there are several St. Ann’s parishes.)

We would like to thank all of the wonderful staff at Cadia Health Renaissance in Millsboro, DE and Vitas Hospice of DE for their wonderful care and support.