Daniel (Danny) Beech was born in Pahiatua in 1942 and attended St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children from the age of 5. Moving to Palmerston North as a young adult, Danny embarked on a life crammed with commitment and loyalty to the NZ Deaf community. With involvement and achievements too numerous to detail, Danny led or contributed to many of the critical and significant advancements in the Deaf community from the early 1970s through to his death in September 2007. Of particular note, was Danny’s involvement in establishing the New Zealand Association of the Deaf; his work with the Manawatu and Auckland Deaf Societies; establishing NZSL interpreter training in NZ; and his tireless work for the Catholic Deaf Ministry in NZ. It was for this area of service that Pope John Paul II awarded Danny the Benemerenti (“well deserved”) Medal of the Catholic Church in 1987.