Loving, kind, funny, strong faith,
Family oriented, beach lover
Dan was smart, handsome and sociable, especially with girls who seemed to like his blond hair and blue eyes. There were no worries with his academics; he just did what he was supposed to, never having to be asked to do homework. He liked sports, and particularly excelled at soccer. He also liked cars, motorcycles and playing video games, even winning some local gaming competitions.
He graduated from high school and attempted college to become a radiology tech, but that was short-lived when he became addicted. He wrote in his journal that he was looking forward to being a father someday and coming home from work and playing ball in the yard with his son. Dan loved children, even stopping while out shopping once to soothe a screaming child by reading to her.
Even as a child Dan liked nice things. At the age of eight, he dressed up in a shirt and tie for a family Thanksgiving dinner, and had every hair in place. At his funeral his brothers saw his hair and said: “Oh – he is not going to like his hair!”
The family was always together; Sunday dinners, church, games, and they vacationed together each year at Ocean City, Maryland. Dan loved the beach more than just about anything else.
His mother has fond memories of family time together and of special times alone with just him. He insisted on taking her to get a tattoo on her 50th birthday and she cherished time with him driving to Colorado. His mother said “he wore his life on his body,” meaning his tattoos spoke to what he loved. His tattoos included, prayer hands, a picture of a big wave coming in, the word “family” in big letters and an angel and devil on his shoulders.
Toni’s family has started a foundation in Dan’s name to “help get people into treatment and recovery and also provide overdose prevention awareness, education programs, and to provide grief support groups.”
Life is not the same with Dan gone, “the life that I thought we would have as a family is different. You take apart that link and even though you can try to put the chain back together, it is never quite the same. Parents are given a life sentence when they lose a child.”
Dan’s mother, Toni Torsch, was interviewed for this profile.
June 9, 1986- Dec 3, 2010
Age 24
Lived with addiction for 7 years.
