JEAN-MARIE “JOHN” DANG

JEAN-MARIE “JOHN” DANG

LOS ANGELES, CA — Jean-Marie “John” Dang died after a short, unexpected illness on February 12, 2019 at Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles, CA.

He was born Dang Huu Nghia in Saigon, Vietnam and given a French-Vietnamese education. He spent his early adult years in Paris where he was nationalized as a French citizen before moving to the United States to rejoin family. Married for 30 years to Cheryl Etzel, (Fort Dodge, IA), and with a teenaged daughter, Natalie, his family was always his top priority, pride and joy.

In his 63 years, John liked philosophy, history, gardening, food, and French culture. He loved the beach, and also enjoyed camping at California’s mountains and forests. More than anything, music was his passion from where he gained incredible strength and inspiration as a singer, composer and guitarist. He loved to share this gift with family, friends and the world through live performance and social media, under the moniker, Free-Happy Dang, his motto. He was known for bringing these personal interests into his professional career in medical sales over his 29 years at PSS Medical, McKesson Medical and Henry Schein.

John is survived by his wife and child, siblings, in-laws and many nieces and nephews. John will be buried in Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster, CA.