In Memory of Dan
Donation protected
Daniel Patrick Smith
5/16/1958 – 1/31/2005
This is our father/brother/son/uncle, Dan Smith. This month, we would have been celebrating Dan's 60th birthday. Sadly, Dan was taken from us too soon, at age 46.
On May 19, our family will be gathering on the beach in Ocean City, NJ for an informal 5k in honor of Dan’s 60th birthday.
All funds from this page will be donated to further the study of melanoma research worldwide.
Dan’s Story
Dan was first diagnosed with melanoma at age 33, when he had a nasty looking mole on his forearm. He underwent surgery to remove the spot along with a sampling of lymph nodes. The lymph nodes were unaffected and his doctor gave him a clean bill of health, with no need for follow-ups. He put it behind him and went on with his life.
It was a life of ups and downs, but Dan was an eternal optimist. He worked hard, was always cheerful, very proud of his kids, Tara and Kyle, and a great friend to many. Dan had a great sense of humor. He was always helping others, and was known for his great hugs, and his sentimental cards at holidays.
Twelve years after the melanoma surgery, Dan was 45, working as a chef plus a 2nd job, raising Kyle on his own, when he started having headaches. His doctor scheduled an MRI. On the very day of the MRI appointment, he was trying to give instructions to a new hire in his kitchen and couldn’t get the words out. By the time he got home to his girlfriend, Laura, he was completely incoherent. She brought him to the hospital, and that began the fight for his life that lasted 17 months.
The melanoma had metastasized to his brain, Stage 4. It was August of 2003. The details of his battle are too excruciating and difficult to relate, with surgeries, chemo, treatments, pain, and lots and lots of prayers. Despite all of that, the melanoma spread to his lungs, his bones, and various internal organs. We lost him in January of 2005.
We miss him to this day, and our love for Dan, the father of Kyle & Tara, son of Ruth and Leo, brother to Maggie, Anita, Ellen, Ruth, and Andrea, love of Laura and her daughter, Cassie, and Uncle and friend to many, lives on.
On his 60th birthday, we want to put aside the sadness and celebrate the love.
We invite you to join us on the beach in Ocean City, NJ, Saturday, May 19 at 10 am. Some of us will be running a 5k, some will walk, and some will bring chairs to sit and reflect.
All are welcome.
We hope you will consider a donation in Dan’s memory to further research, raise awareness, and promote early detection of melanoma. Many advances have been made in melanoma research since Dan was first diagnosed, but it remains the deadliest form of skin cancer, with diagnoses increasing, especially among young adults.
We pray that other families will not have to endure the heartache
of losing a loved one to this most dangerous form of skin cancer.
This was Dan’s final message to all of us:
We are all here to experience God’s love
and to get to know him deeply.
Take a moment each day
to get to know Him (or Her)
and thank Him for our existence.
Be angry sometimes,
be thoughtful sometimes,
but be more thankful at all times.
God is filling us with a love that is endless and true.
He will answer our prayers
and give us all the love we need in our hearts.
God bless all of us.
Dan
5/16/1958 – 1/31/2005
This is our father/brother/son/uncle, Dan Smith. This month, we would have been celebrating Dan's 60th birthday. Sadly, Dan was taken from us too soon, at age 46.
On May 19, our family will be gathering on the beach in Ocean City, NJ for an informal 5k in honor of Dan’s 60th birthday.
All funds from this page will be donated to further the study of melanoma research worldwide.
Dan’s Story
Dan was first diagnosed with melanoma at age 33, when he had a nasty looking mole on his forearm. He underwent surgery to remove the spot along with a sampling of lymph nodes. The lymph nodes were unaffected and his doctor gave him a clean bill of health, with no need for follow-ups. He put it behind him and went on with his life.
It was a life of ups and downs, but Dan was an eternal optimist. He worked hard, was always cheerful, very proud of his kids, Tara and Kyle, and a great friend to many. Dan had a great sense of humor. He was always helping others, and was known for his great hugs, and his sentimental cards at holidays.
Twelve years after the melanoma surgery, Dan was 45, working as a chef plus a 2nd job, raising Kyle on his own, when he started having headaches. His doctor scheduled an MRI. On the very day of the MRI appointment, he was trying to give instructions to a new hire in his kitchen and couldn’t get the words out. By the time he got home to his girlfriend, Laura, he was completely incoherent. She brought him to the hospital, and that began the fight for his life that lasted 17 months.
The melanoma had metastasized to his brain, Stage 4. It was August of 2003. The details of his battle are too excruciating and difficult to relate, with surgeries, chemo, treatments, pain, and lots and lots of prayers. Despite all of that, the melanoma spread to his lungs, his bones, and various internal organs. We lost him in January of 2005.
We miss him to this day, and our love for Dan, the father of Kyle & Tara, son of Ruth and Leo, brother to Maggie, Anita, Ellen, Ruth, and Andrea, love of Laura and her daughter, Cassie, and Uncle and friend to many, lives on.
On his 60th birthday, we want to put aside the sadness and celebrate the love.
We invite you to join us on the beach in Ocean City, NJ, Saturday, May 19 at 10 am. Some of us will be running a 5k, some will walk, and some will bring chairs to sit and reflect.
All are welcome.
We hope you will consider a donation in Dan’s memory to further research, raise awareness, and promote early detection of melanoma. Many advances have been made in melanoma research since Dan was first diagnosed, but it remains the deadliest form of skin cancer, with diagnoses increasing, especially among young adults.
We pray that other families will not have to endure the heartache
of losing a loved one to this most dangerous form of skin cancer.
This was Dan’s final message to all of us:
We are all here to experience God’s love
and to get to know him deeply.
Take a moment each day
to get to know Him (or Her)
and thank Him for our existence.
Be angry sometimes,
be thoughtful sometimes,
but be more thankful at all times.
God is filling us with a love that is endless and true.
He will answer our prayers
and give us all the love we need in our hearts.
God bless all of us.
Dan
Organizer
Anita Smith Robbio
Organizer
Cape May Court House, NJ