"font-family:">Ernest Daniel “Dan” Corte Jr., 77, a native and lifelong resident of the Fairhope area, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family.
"font-family:">Dan was a lifelong member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church. He grew up in Fairhope and lived on the bay in Battles Wharf his entire adult life.
"font-family:">He attended University Military School (UMS), where he graduated in 1953. He went on to attend Georgetown University, Spring Hill College and graduated from Tulane University in 1957.
"font-family:">Dan was a proud member of the large Italian farming Corte family in Baldwin County. He farmed himself in the 1960s. He was also a lifelong realtor and insurance agent.
"font-family:">In the 1960s and ‘70s he was a co-owner of Corte & Clark, as well as Major Home developers/homebuilders.
"font-family:">In 1977 he opened the first Popeye’s Fried Chicken franchise outside Louisiana, which he owned until 2007.
"font-family:">He was the celebrity chairman for the PGA’s World Open Pro-Am in Pinehurst, N.C. in 1973, and for the Ken Stabler Celebrity Golf Classic in Point Clear from 1990 until 2001.
"font-family:">Dan was a charter member of the Alabama Film Commission, originally appointed by Gov. George Wallace. He assisted many movie companies with filming in Alabama, especially in Mobile and Baldwin counties, and with that connection he formed many close friendships, who became “dear, dear friends” from Hollywood.
"font-family:">He also acted in several local plays, such as “Run for Your Wives.” He had an occasional part in the motion pictures that were filmed in Alabama, such as “Backroads” and “Under Siege.”
"font-family:">Among his many accomplishments, he was also a co-producer of the 2011 film “Alabama Moon.” The man just loved movies.
"font-family:">He also loved traveling all over the world, and knew where most of the finer restaurants were located … the man just loved to travel and eat.
"font-family:">Dan was an epic joke-teller and practical joker, to family and friends alike. He was proficient at telling a joke and laughing so hard at his own jokes, that his face would turn beet red with tears running down his face. Above all, the man loved to laugh with family and friends.
"font-family:">Mr. Corte was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest D. Sr. and Berta Griffin Corte; and his wife, Camille Head Corte.
"font-family:">He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Lavender Corte; children, E. Daniel “Danny” (Trudy) Corte III, Cindy Corte (Dan) Trice, R. M. “Tripp” (Lee-Lyn) Howard III, Kim Howard (Chip) Campbell, C. Chase (Wynter) Corte, Cameron T. Corte, J. Rucker Staggers, W. Joseph Staggers and T. Cameron Staggers, all of Fairhope; grandchildren, Christopher Sims, Camille K. and E.R. IV “Camp” Campbell, Caroline E. “Carly” and Madalena E. Corte, Charleen B., Jacob L. and Collier A. Firlus, Sydney R., Mason M., Ansley M. and Shelby M. Howard, R. Blake and Connor W. Owens, Jamie C., M. Hannah and Julie E. Trice; brother, A. Dexter (Anne) Corte Sr., of Loxley; nieces, nephews, cousins, many other relatives and friends.
"font-family:">The family will receive friends at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Fairhope on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, from 6 until 8 p.m.
"font-family:">Mass of Christian Burial will be held from St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at 11 a.m.
"font-family:">Interment will follow in Belforest Catholic Cemetery, Daphne.
"font-family:">In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Bayside Academy, 303 Dryer Ave., Daphne, AL 36526,
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"color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none"> www.baysideacademy.org Mitchell Cancer Institute, 1660 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604,
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"color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none"> www.usamci.com Humane Society, 306 Magnolia Ave., Fairhope, AL 36532, "3">.
"font-family:">Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairhope.
