Daniel Frede Yannette

Daniel Frede Yannette was a brilliant electrical engineer, a multi-degree black belt, golfer, fisherman, gifted cook, whiskey connoisseur, world-class storyteller, and a man in possession of an almost alarming quantity of completely nonessential information. He was one of the most enjoyable people you could hope to spend an evening with.

Dan died unexpectedly on September 3, 2026, at his home on the beach in Indialantic Florida. He was 67 years old and leaves behind a family and a remarkable collection of lifelong friends who weren't remotely ready to lose him.

Dan was born March 20, 1959, at Somerville Hospital in New Jersey to Jean and Tony Yannette, who were then living in Middlesex. The family later moved to Hollywood, Florida, where Dan grew up and graduated from Hollywood Hills High School in 1977.

He had multiple Bachelor’s degrees and ultimately earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida through tremendous persistence and resilience.

He contributed to some remarkable technological achievements. During his career as an electrical engineer, Dan was part of a team involved in the early development of technology that helped make Wi-Fi possible. He later worked on a pioneering ingestible electronic device capable of signaling that medication had been taken, technology whose applications were later extended in other directions, including adult diapers.

But Dan's professional accomplishments tell only a fraction of the story.

He was a multi-degree black belt in Shotokan karate, and friendships forged through karate remained among his closest decades later. He golfed. He fished. He traveled. He cooked, and cooked well. He loved good food and was a serious connoisseur of good whiskey and tequila. He loved foreign cars and, it must be said, had a certain appreciation for foreign women as well.

Most of all, Dan loved a good gathering.

Put him around a table with family or friends, add great food and an exceptional bottle of something, and the stories would flow. Almost any subject could trigger one, and Dan's astonishing storehouse of facts, experiences, observations and gloriously unnecessary trivia meant no one could ever be quite certain where the story was going.

They did know it would probably be funny.

Dan had a remarkably quick, knowing wit. He didn't have to work hard to be funny; he simply was. He was people-smart as well as book-smart, comfortable talking with almost anyone and capable of moving from serious conversation to complete irreverence without missing a beat.

For all his independence, Dan cared deeply about the people in his life.

He was an exceptionally caring and involved uncle to his six nieces and nephews. He maintained close friendships that stretched across decades. He was trusted, reliable, generous and enormous fun to be around.

And he showed up. Well, maybe a bit late...but he was there and all in, dammit!

Dan was predeceased by his parents, Jean and Tony Yannette and sister, Ann Murphy (Michael). He is survived by his siblings, Chuck Yannette (Cindy), Alice Hill (Jim) and Michael Yannette (Javier Espinoza); his six nieces and nephews; and a large circle of extended family and longtime friends who loved him dearly.

There will be no somber funeral for Dan.

Instead, in keeping with both his wishes and his personality, there will be a Celebration of Life party. There will be family. There will be friends. There will be stories. There will be laughter. And one can safely assume that the spirits being poured will meet Dan's standards.

Daniel Frede Yannette was extraordinarily smart, brilliantly funny, fiercely independent, and genuinely invested in the people fortunate enough to share his life. We will celebrate him accordingly. After all, Dan certainly gave us plenty to talk about.

He will be missed!