Dan Telfair was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on May 6, 1938, the second son of Charles Ward Telfair, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Telfair nee Moore. He died happily on January 16, 2026 with his much loved wife Zia at his side and knowing that he was surrounded by his many great friends and neighbors at Jubilee Los Lunas. He is survived by Zia and by his daughters Jackie Telfair and Michele Ramsey, both of whom he loved and was immensely proud.

Dan quit school when he was sixteen, lied about his age, and joined the Army as a private with a tenth grade education. He retired from the Army twenty-four years later as a Regular Army lieutenant colonel with a Masters Degree, having served three tours in Vietnam The Army was good to him. After leaving the Army, he formed a small company, and built it up for seven years before selling it and entering private consulting work. He continued to do private consulting work and spent four years with Sandia National Laboratories, before retiring for good in August 1992.

In his retirement, Dan was never idle. One of his most selfless activities was as the leader of Angel Flight which uses private aeroplanes to fly mercy missions taking patients to and from outlying areas and hospitals,

Dan was instrumental in organizing the many eclectic "fans" of the novelist, Nevil Shute. He audaciously planned and with the help of Zia and others executed the incredible Centennial Celebration of Shute's 100th birthday in Albuquerque in 1999. This in turn led to many further international gatherings of Shutists, which featured research by individuals and talks given by those in attendance. In addition, Dan instituted a newsletter and started a Foundation, both of which continue. A search for "Telfair" on the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation web page will reveal dozens of articles involving Dan and/or Zia. Ironically, had Dan lived one more day, he would have died on Nevil Shute's birthday!

He and Zia spent the thirty-three years of their retirement together wisely, traveling and doing volunteer work. His life was a good one, from beginning to end.