Dan Gildner

He is greatly missed and forever in Rick's and my heart. May God bless him and may he rest in peace.

I once recommended a book to Dan thinking he’d be impressed. I did not expect him to be so excited about my recommendation - the next thing I knew I was scrambling to answer all sorts of questions about the book. “What was it about?”, “What was your favorite part?”, ”Why’d you decide to read it?,” etc, etc… Of course I’d never actually read the book. And of course Dan knew that all along. As soon as we both knew I was cornered he smiled his big smile, eyes sparkling (they really did), laughed and said “Why on earth would you recommend a book you’ve never read?!” I’ve never forgotten that encounter because all throughout I was respected and appreciated, yet knew I was learning a hard and important lesson. And Dan knew he was teaching it. I wish the world had more Dan’s. To me Dan demonstrated that rare combination of being a happy, optimistic realist (happy is an understatement - Dan knew true joy; as well as a zeal for life that few will ever comprehend), who chose to life this life to the fullest extent possible. In that way he transcended life, and blessed others in how he lived his life - Alive. He was a larger than life kind of guy. Two final thoughts. First - Dan knew why he’d transcended this life and was able to live as freely and joyously as he did: Jesus changed his life. He wanted the world to know it too. Second - G.K. Chesterton writes a thrilling short story about Innocent Smith; a man few understood, most judged wrongly, but who himself was so abnormal because he’s figured out how to live life. Dan Gildner was Innocent Smith; that book is Manalive. And yes I’ve read it. Dan is in Heaven, far more joyous than he ever was here, as too we will be if we believe. But the degree of difference in felt joy? I suspect his was much smaller than how the rest of us will feel. See you in Heaven, Dan.