Beloved 'Survivor: Nicaragua' contestant Dan Lembo dies at his New York City home at 75
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Beloved 'Survivor' contestant Dan Lembo has reportedly died at the age of 75 in his Manhattan home.
Lembo died on September 3, an obituary stated, albeit the cause of death has not been released. The reality TV star's loved ones remembered him as a "charismatic, larger-than-life, outgoing bon vivant" who "loved nothing more than spending time with his children and friends – new and old." The obituary further noted, "On weekends he enjoyed softball in Bridgehampton with friends," adding, "Daniel will be remembered as a friend to all and a father to two."
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Lembo was one of the oldest contestants on the 21st season of 'Survivor' in 2010 when he entered the show at the age of 63. While he didn't do well in physical challenges, mostly due to his prior knee surgeries, he was very well-liked by his fellow contenders. He managed to survive all the way until the final five, before being eliminated on Day 37. The Brooklyn-born man spent most of his career in real estate. He was reportedly already a millionaire when he competed on 'Survivor', flaunting expensive alligator shoes while playing the game. "I didn't play Survivor for money," he told People after being voted out. "I wanted the adventure. I'm the type of guy who sees a challenge and thinks, 'I could do that.' So I wanted to be part of this crazy game — and I did pretty well, I'd say! I made it really far."
It seems the #Survivor community has lost another alum, as it’s been discovered Dan Lembo passed away in September.
— Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) November 15, 2022
RIP to an enigmatic character from Nicaragua who gave us alligator shoes, giant chairs, an all-time jury speech, and a surprisingly tender family visit pic.twitter.com/BqkHF9PJuX
Lembo, on his show profile, stated that his claim to fame was “raising two sons and my career” and said that he was competing on 'Survivor' simply for "my ego (and for fun).” According to his obituary, Daniel Louis Lembo was born in Brooklyn on November 7, 1946. He went on to attend New Utrecht High School in Bensonhurst and completed his education at Brooklyn College before graduating in 1969. He then made his foray into the real estate industry. While Lembo's demise went largely unnoticed in the 'Survivor' community, there were hundreds of family members and friends who attended a September memorial service for him.
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Lembo is survived by his sons Matthew and Michael, daughter-in-laws Emily and Dana, grandchildren Ava, Annabelle, Sailor, James, and Harper, as well as his former wife Barbara. His son Matthew paid tribute to his father in the obituary. "Thank you for being my Dad. You were a happy person. You were my best friend. I will miss you," he wrote. While Michael added, "Dad, no matter the situation, you were always there for me. You were my first phone call. You were my travel buddy. Every weekend, we would take our trips. From skiing in Vermont, looking at homes in the Hamptons, a sunny weekend in Miami, or a Yankees' playoff game, we were always together. I will miss you. I love you."
According to The Sun, a funeral service was held in Lembo's honor on September 8 in New York City.