Daniel Arthur Sisk

A third generation New Mexican, Daniel Arthur Sisk was born in Albuquerque in 1927 to Myrl Hope Sisk and Arthur Henry Sisk. Dan enlisted in the US Navy in 1945 when he graduated from high school at New Mexico Military Institute and served in the western Pacific and China. He attended the University of New Mexico (1946-48) and graduated from Stanford University in 1950, whereupon he received his commission in the US Marine Corps. After two years at Stanford Law School Dan was called to active duty in the Korean War; where he served as a 1st Lt. and was discharged as a Captain. He completed law school in 1954 and married Katharine Banning, the love of his life, in November of that year. Dan and Kay were married for over 62 years. They moved back to Albuquerque in 1954 and Dan joined the Modrall law firm, becoming the sixth lawyer in the firm, which now has more than 60 lawyers. Dan was a partner in the firm for over 40 years. Dan was appointed by Governor Cargo to the New Mexico Supreme Court in 1968. Later, Dan served as Chairman of the Board of Sunwest Financial Services for 15 years.

Dan was a lifelong public servant whose volunteer roles included: President of the Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque (1960-61), Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Bar Association (1962-63) and the New Mexico School of Banking Foundation (1981-85), Trustee of Sandia School (1968-72), Albuquerque Academy (1971-73), and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Memorial Hospitals (1966-82). He delivered meals for Meals On Wheels for 20 years. A member of First Presbyterian Church for over 75 years, Dan served as an elder and deacon.

Dan and Kay loved to travel and visited every continent and dozens of countries. He and Kay were accomplished ballroom dancers and won a first place dance trophy on one of their cruises. Dan loved family celebrations and holiday gatherings, dogs, and fishing for trout in the mountains of New Mexico and southern Colorado and salmon in Alaska. For decades he was a passionate fan of Lobo basketball, and he enjoyed playing baseball and watching Albuquerque’s professional teams: the Cardinals, Dukes, Dodgers and, now, Isotopes. Dan was patriotic and believed strongly in the promise of the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution. To his many friends and professional colleagues, he was known as a caring and approachable man of intellect and integrity. Above all, he is remembered as a kind person who loved New Mexico and its people, cultures and potential.

Dan is survived by his wife, Kay; and his children, John and wife, Mary Pat, Sarah and husband, Alan, and Tom and partner, Wendy; and six grandchildren, Emily and Lucas Merli, Emma and Laura Hamilton, and Lucinda and Elinor Sisk.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 24, 2017, 10:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 215 Locust St. NE. The memorial service will be followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in honor of Daniel.