Dan loved music.

We loved Dan because he loved music.

We loved Dan because he was a nice guy.

We loved Dan because he was kind and caring.

We hate that we’re talking about Dan in the past tense.

53 years was all Dan got. He made the most of them, playing in a Grateful Dead-inspired jam band for 35 of them, alongside my wife’s cousin Mike, and carving out a great career at P&G.

Dan (in hat) with my mother-in-law, my wife’s aunt and my wife’s cousin Mike.

But you can be a musician and be a jerk. Or you can be a musician and be like Dan – kind, positive, sharing the love of music with the next generation.

Dan’s passing was sudden, and totally unexpected. He was supposed to fly back into town this weekend and play a gig with his band, Spookfloaters. Instead, his family and friends will gather in Colorado for a celebration of life.

“Celebration of life” – it’s something we should all do, every day. Dan sure did. Rest in peace, friend. We love you.