On Feb. 9, 53-year-old Eric Dane passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle atrophy and loss of voluntary movement.
Best known as Dr. Mark Sloan, or “McSteamy” in “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dane’s acting career began in the Peninsula. But before he was McSteamy, Cal Jacobs, or even Joe Keller in San Mateo’s production of “All My Sons,” Dane was a committed water polo player and student at Sequoia High School.
As part of the water polo team, Dane was a playful teammate. His sense of humor stood out among the rest, and his competitiveness benefited the team, playing a key role on the wing and among his teammates. His water polo skill and character made his transfer to San Mateo difficult for teammates such as Mark Federighi, who hated to lose a player like him…