Light to many other people!
Described by his mother, Pam, as tall and handsome, with an athletic build, Dan enjoyed an active lifestyle. He loved skiing, swimming, going to the beach, riding his Harley, kayaking, and working on old vehicles.
Although he had a learning disability that sometimes made academics difficult, Dan displayed a real aptitude for mechanical things. He loved tearing vintage cars and trucks apart and restoring them with new parts. Putting his skills to work, Dan completed a two-year certification in diesel mechanics, worked professionally on diesel engines, eventually moving up to become a troubleshooter.
Dan also treasured being with family and friends. He was especially close to his brother’s family and shared many good times with his nephews Bowen and Greer. His nephews loved hanging out with their “cool” Uncle Dan. He played video games with him, took them for rides in his truck, and taught them how to ski during a family vacation. Dan was also a good friend. He helped one friend get a job where he was working and helped another get his family’s greenhouse business up and running.
One cherished family memory was of Dan walking through his house on his hands and almost getting his legs tangled up in a ceiling fan. His mother recalls, “He forgot that it would be like walking through the house with his arms held up. It was a family joke.”
The family remembers Dan as funny, happy, and laughing a lot, but this part of his personality slowly changed as his battle with substance use disorder (SUD) grew worse. His parents were only aware of Dan’s struggles for three months. Shortly before his overdose, Dan went through a detox program that seemed to help him. When Dan came back from treatment, he went to a therapist, had a support group, and was doing well at work. Unfortunately, he used drugs again, and this time they were laced with fentanyl. Dan died in his mom’s home, the day before Mother’s Day, of an accidental fentanyl overdose.
Today Pam feels strongly about addressing the stigma around people who suffer from substance use disorder. She says Dan wanted to go to high schools to talk with kids about the dangers of drug addiction, but sadly, he never got the chance to do so.
In her son’s memory, Pam has begun talking to different groups about substance use disorder, and how devastating Dan’s death has been to her family. She says, “I want to tell Dan’s story, and if it helps one person, it is worth it. I know that I will never tire of sharing it because it is all I have left.”
Daniel’s mother, Pam Jones, provided the information for this narrative.
May 23, 1986-May 7, 2022-Age 35
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Justin Robertson
