Dan was the year under me at East High. He ran around with some of my favorite people, and always seemed so bright, and outgoing, and kind. One day we were discussing our favorite musicals, and he said his was "On the Town", which I had never seen. "You HAVE to see it!" he said. The very next day, he brought his cherished (and fragile) copy of the movie to school and entrusted it to me, a virtual stranger. I loved it, of course! And I have been grateful ever since for exposing me to good art, but more than that, for showing me one of my best examples, to date, of a generous heart.
I have this theory about names. It seems to me that people with the same first names tend to share characteristics. Which is why I could never name a child of mine "Mike" or "Steve" (no offense awesome Mikes & Steves out there-- I've known some good ones) ...My point is, I did name my son "Daniel", and, while I didn't name him directly after Dan, I definitely named him with Dan & all his fine qualities in mind. Qualities he passed on, by example, to everyone he met. Qualities I hope my own son will have. Sincerely, Miriam Sandberg Erickson (class of '99)