Daniel Mendoza Lopez

Daniel Mendoza López was born on May 1, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. He lived a vibrant 84 years before he passed away on October 18, 2024 in Lanham, Maryland surrounded by his children. He is survived by his partner of thirty-three years Pamela G. Anderson. He was the third of six children born to his parents Juan Chávez López and Marcelina Mendoza López. He was predeceased by his siblings Anna Jiménez, Samuel López, and Paul López and his son Juan López (1979-2024). His oldest sister Martha Marcano passed away January 7, 2025. He is survived by his sister Jennie Puerta. In his youth he was well known for his biblical studies. As a young man he studied chemistry at the University of Chicago and Dubuque University in Dubuque, Iowa. He served in the army from 1960 – 1962. He married Olga Constance Crowe López (1938-2024) in 1962 and they divorced in 1983.

Daniel published NUESTRO the first national magazine for Latinos from 1977 -1989, and Hispanic Review of Business the first national magazine to serve the Latino business community from 1982– 1989. He was recognized as a leader in the national Latino community and was invited to the White House to meet with President Jimmy Carter in 1979. He was a sales and marketing professional and began Pacific Dreams, a vacation club in Hawai’i, which he ran from 2009 - 2011. He eventually became a construction contractor in the early 1990s and ran Virginia Design Builders from 1992 – 2013. He started Apache Design Build in 2013 which he operated with his partner Pam Anderson and his daughter Bianca and his son Pablo until his death. 

Dan is survived by his children with Olga C. López: Felice López, Daniel T. López (Kathryn Gray), and Yvette Lagaly (Rodney); and his children with Barbara Kolb: Alexis López (Kris Fischer) and Pablo López (Beth); and his daughter with Elizabeth Ysla Leight: Bianca López. He leaves his grandchildren Zoe, Wyatt, Rafael, Nicolas, Carmina, Arianna, Ophelia, Luciano, Yezenia, and Phoenix, and his two great granddaughters Rosalie and Mila. He was adored by many nieces and nephews. He loved the ocean, sailing, world history and thinking about business problems and opportunities. He was a big spirited, loving and generous man. We all love him and will miss him. 

The Memorial Service and a Celebration of Life for Dan will be held at Alexandria Friends Meeting at Woodlawn, 8990 Woodlawn Road Alexandria, Virginia 22309 on March 8, 2025, at 1:00. Interment will be private.