H. Daniel Winters

Chief H. Daniel Winters, 78, of Palm Coast, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, surrounded by his loving family after a long fight with cancer.

Dan was born in Southampton on Aug. 7, 1932, and is preceded in death by his mother, Marion Albertson Regent, and father, Harold D. Winters, a police officer in the Town of Southampton. Also preceding him in death was an infant daughter, Julie Ann, in 1968.

After graduating from Southold High School, Dan went to work for the Grumman Corporation in Bethpage and was one of the first to move to the airplane plant in Calverton. On Aug. 29, 1957, he was appointed as Police Officer for Southold Town Police. Promotions culminated with Dan’s appointment to the rank of Chief of Police on July 15, 1981. He retired from that position on Jan. 1, 1991.

Dan spent 34 years devoted to his police work and caring for the people of Southold Town. In retirement, his main focus was his family, especially his five grandchildren and their accomplishments. He was an avid NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan and was also a friend of Bill for 36 years.

Dan was a founding member of Southold Town Police Benevolent Association; past president of the Suffolk County Chiefs of Police Association; past president of the Police Association of Suffolk County; life member of New York State Association of Chiefs of Police and served as Suffolk County’s representative on the Board of Governors; member of the International Associations of Chiefs of Police; retired Police Association of New York State (life member) and Suffolk County Police Conference. While living in Southold he was a member of Southold Rotary and Southold Fire Department.

Dan is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella F. Winters, and two sons, Daniel (Ann), of Bunnell, Fla., and Peter (Marilyn) of Southold; five grandchildren, Christopher, Nicole and Katie, of Palm Coast, and Gregory and Timothy, of Southold; brother Richard, of Southold, and brother Gary, of Salisbury, N.C. His uncle, A.W. Albertson Jr., and many nieces, nephews and cousins from the Long Island area also survive.

A Celebration of Dan’s Life was held in the afternoon on Friday, March 11, 2011, at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, Fla., where he was a member.

Family from Florida and New York will receive friends from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 26, 2011, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home on the Main Road in Mattituck. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Peter J. Kelley officiating. (Arranged by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes and Southold Town Police Department.)

Memorial donations may be sent to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 1328, Flagler Beach, FL 32136, or a charity of the giver’s choice.

This is a paid notice.