From Heart to Hardt

Our beloved colleague and friend, Dan Engelhardt, has entered hospice care after a courageous battle with cancer.

If you’ve had the privilege of working with Dan, you know he’s so much more than the man who led our Social Security seminars or guided us through the complex world of compliance. He’s a father, a teacher, a mentor—and at his core, an artist with a heart that’s always been in tune with others.

Dan’s story begins in Brooklyn, where as a child he discovered the piano like it was an extension of his soul. With two pianos in his home and a gift for music that revealed itself in a moment of inspiration, Dan’s natural talent became undeniable. He trained under a world-class pianist, devoured the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, and eventually went on to study music in college on a full scholarship.

But Dan didn’t stop at playing music—he lived it. He toured up and down the East Coast in bands, composed original works from the heart (or as he might say, from the “Hardt”), and later brought that same passion into the classroom. He worked with emotionally challenged children, launched horticultural therapy programs, and ultimately returned to his first love—teaching music—where he set up a keyboard lab and helped students find their rhythm, both in music and in life.

Dan has touched so many lives with his warmth, his stories, and his endless creativity. Now, he and his family need our support. This GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the medical and end-of-life expenses that no one should have to carry alone.

If Dan’s story, his music , or his presence in your life has moved you in any way, we invite you to give what you can and share this page with others.

Let’s surround Dan with the same love, care, and generosity he’s always shown to us.