It's taken me a bit to try and get some thoughts together, but here goes. I met Dan in 1985 when I first started with IDX (please don't do the math!). It was a few years before I joined the GPMS development group, and was able to get to know him a lot better. His dedication to the clients, the product, and his work were unmatched. He taught me so much about how to do the right thing. As others have mentioned, there was a gruff side hiding the teddy bear underneath. I remember bringing him designs to see what he thought and getting the "NFW" response. Then, he would think about it some more, and within a couple of hours, he was back at my desk giving me what I wanted, with just a better way to code it underneath. I always said, as long as the outcome is the same, and a minimum of additional keystrokes, I didn't care how he got there.
During the GE years, and beyond, we both moved to different places, but kept in touch. Occasional lunches, drinks, and always the emails every couple of months to see how things were going. He was very stoic about how he was feeling, but pretty upfront about the treatments, surgeries, and all he was going through to keep things at bay as best he could. All the while still working full time, and caring for his parents.
I was so happy when, after a visit to see Mark and Seri, he and Ceal decided to pack up the pups, move to Washington and build a new house. A new adventure, and some time just for them.
I really don't have the words to express how much I'm going to miss those catch up emails, or how in awe I am that he fought so hard to stick around for so long. But most of all, I'm grateful for all the time I had, and that his pain is finally gone.
SWC