Sally, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. You have been on my mind lately and I have been meaning to reach out. Deepest sympathies to you and your family.

My heart is with you Sally and your entire family. The celebration of life this week was unbelievably personal, beautiful, and an amazing tribute to Dan and your family. You captured every possible aspect of his life and with such an outpouring of love and support from all his communities. His humanity pulls together all of his passions and interests, and reflect the most amazing and full life, touching the hearts of others in so many ways. Although I was present for the celebration, I went back to see the pictures in the video that were pure joy. Those of us who worked with him at the hospital felt his commitment and grace with virtually every interaction, and we so benefited from his wisdom in his teaching every month for almost 20 years our doctoral interns, a rare experience for trainees. We also had the joy of his poems and songs intermittently for various groups of the interns, something none of them will ever forget. May his memory be a blessing and know that thoughts and prayers continue to surround you.

Dear Sally, I am so sorry - I learned about Don's passing from Mark, and it was really a shock because I had no idea he had been ill. I have always treasured knowing you and Don, and appreciated very much your open house, open ears, and helpful words when times were rough for me! I'll try to be there tomorrow for the celebration of Don's life! Wishing you all the best in these difficult times, Stefanie

Dear Sally and Family,
I am sending love from my family to yours in hopes you are taking comfort in the meaningful life that Don lived. He and I first met as graduate students; he was already a seasoned professional and Ph.D. adding yet another degree in the Socratic spirit that the wise person knows what he doesn’t know, and I was working on my doctorate believing I already knew everything. I recall his hair and beard back then as near-black and his personality as fun-loving, curious, and serious at the same time. After grad school, we went our separate ways until 15 years later when my newborn daughter was discharged in full health after a long stay at Children’s Hospital. Don was the person through whom I conveyed my thanks to the institution, and this time with silvery hair he remembered our connection from years before. At his invitation, I went on to volunteer for 10 years on the Bioethics Committee that he ran because he led with care and compassion and was a person everyone wanted to work with, learn from, and support. I left every one of his meetings with the feeling that the work was worthwhile. After an in-depth dialogue at one of those meetings, we decided to work together on a paper that we eventually published in the American Journal of Bioethics, which I think crossed off an item on his bucket list. I am honored by this association with him, heartbroken with you by the loss of this wonderful man, and hopeful that the world will remain a better place because of who he was and what he did.
Sincerely,
Christopher Wong Michaelson

Many wonderful memories of dinner with Don and conversations on wide ranging topics. But the one memory I will always carry of Don is I was home recovering for a few months from a tough surgery. Don came to my living room with his guitar and sang beautiful songs from his robust songbook. It was a pure act of Healing LOVE. Thank You Don!

Bill Manning

We were shocked and saddened to hear about Don’s illness and untimely death. We remember well the joy he brought to Kate and Charlie whenever he came to school and sang to their respective classes. His death leaves a void that cannot be filled. Sending lots of love to Sally, the boys, and their families.

Frank Noel and Ellen Perl