Daniel William Vélez

Daniel “Danny” Vélez, 61, of Wallingford, CT passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury with his loving family by his side. Danny was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico on May 8, 1964, a son of Alicia (Cruz) Vélez and the late Luvidio Vélez, and had resided in New Haven for most of his life before moving to Wallingford six years ago.

He was a 1982 graduate of Richard C. Lee High School, and formerly worked as a supervisor and machinist at Simkin Industries, New Haven. Danny was loved and cared about by the many people who knew him.  He was the kind of person who didn’t have to say a lot to prove what kind of a man he was…he showed it in the way he lived. One of the things that Danny loved most was fishing. Fishing wasn’t just a hobby for him, it was his peace. It was one of the places where he could breathe, think, and just be himself. Anyone who went fishing with him knew that it wasn’t only about catching something, it was about shared time together. The quiet, the stories, the laughs, and the little moments that meant everything. Danny also loved to cook for others. Cooking was his way of showing love. He fed everyone-family, friends, anybody who walked through the door. He didn’t just cook to eat, he cooked to make people feel welcome. He cooked like it mattered, like people that he cooked for mattered, and he made sure that there was always enough for everyone. The best way to describe Danny though was to say he showed up! Danny was the type of person who others called when they didn’t know what else to do. When they were stuck, when they were stressed, or when they were in a pinch. If you needed help or support, or someone to come through for you, Danny was the one who would bail you out. He didn’t do it for the credit or the attention, that’s just who he was. Danny had a good, giving and protective heart.

In addition to his mother, Danny is survived by two sons, Daniel (Neal Leigner) Vélez, Jr. of Northfield, VT and Devon (Esmeralda García) Vélez of San Diego, CA, a daughter, Delilah (Victor Barajas) Rios of Vista, CA, two sisters, Carmen “Mimi” (Ray) Morales of Meriden and Virgen “Nana” (Patricia Warquist) Vélez of West Haven, four brothers, Peter (Lucy) Vélez of Texas, Wilson (Janet) Vélez of Waterbury, Orlando (Nancy) Vélez of Phoenix, AZ, and Marcelino Vélez of Wallingford, five beloved grandchildren, Devon Eiza Vélez, Emory Dia Vélez, Juan Rios, Azaliah Barajas and Layli Barajas, and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, Edwin and Heroito Vélez.

Danny’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, January 23rd from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, January 24th at 10:00 a.m; the Rev. Isaias Miranda officiating. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Ave., North Haven. washingtonmemorialfh.com

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