Honoring Dan Cashier: A Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Community
by Renee Osborne
Some of you may already know that Dan Cashier passed away on December 6, 2025, at his home overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach. His passing is a tremendous loss—not only to his family, but to our community and to all of us at the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation.
Dan was one of the founding board members of the Foundation. His ID was issued in 1995, and from the very beginning, he helped shape what this organization would become. He was meticulous, thoughtful, and deeply committed to doing things the right way. But more than that, Dan was a teacher.
When I stepped into my role, my background was more government-focused, and I had a lot to learn about how the Foundation operated. Dan took the time to guide me through it all. I didn’t have the opportunity to take one of his finance classes at Cal Poly, but I often think I received something even more valuable—his one-on-one mentorship. He walked me through decisions, helped me understand the “why” behind our work, and showed me what it meant to lead with both discipline and heart.
Even after he retired from the Foundation, Dan never really stepped away. He continued to help balance fundraiser funds and worked on our donor letters. He would often ask if I needed help with anything else, even while he was busy supporting others in the community with their own financial needs. That was just who he was—always giving his time, always willing to help.
Dan’s impact on the Central Coast extended far beyond our Foundation. After moving to Pismo Beach, he became deeply involved in the community, serving on multiple boards and supporting organizations throughout San Luis Obispo County, including the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation, the Lincoln Club of San Luis Obispo County, the Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande, and the San Luis Yacht Club. He believed in showing up, contributing, and making things better wherever he could.
But one of the things I’ll always remember about Dan was his love for life—and his love for golf.
We recently made the decision to shift our annual fundraiser into a golf tournament. It felt like a natural next step for us as an organization. I never had the chance to tell Dan before he passed, but I did see him at our last fundraiser. He was so happy to be there, and I was so happy to see him.
Dan was always talking about getting back out on the golf course. He would say that someday, he was going to get back out there. I know he would have been excited about this new direction for the Foundation.
Since he can’t be with us in person for our next fundraiser, we wanted to honor him in a way that reflects something he truly loved.
That is why we have named this event the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation Dan Cashier Memorial Golf Tournament.
It is a small way to recognize the lasting impact he had on this organization and on our community. Dan’s legacy is one of service, mentorship, integrity, and quiet leadership—and I will always feel that he is beside me as I continue to make decisions for the Foundation.
We are grateful for everything he gave to us, and we are proud to carry that legacy forward.
