In the Path of a Gentle Giant

 

A soft spoken gentle giant has left us for greener pastures, or more

Dan VanDam

accurately phrased, a Righteous Palace. Standing well over 6 foot tall, Dan Van Dam’s height was never intimidating because he was such a kind and patient person. He always had time to talk and never seemed to be in a hurry. He was concerned about others first, their health, their happiness, their needs or wants. He enjoyed hearing stories about others’ families because to Dan, family came first. 

He proved that over and over when he would tell me about his children or grandchildren who were so special to him. He was proud of each one of them and was available to them always.

Dan was someone you could talk to, knowing that you could trust him to tell you the truth. He offered simple but good advice when needed, being the level headed, patient, and wise man that he was.

I always felt that he truly cared about me and my family. Seldom did I see Dan that he did not ask how my husband was doing. Forget the fact of his own sometimes fragile and ill health, he cared about others.

Dan was the owner of the company that I work for part-time. I can’t say that I referred to Dan as my boss, not that I didn’t respect him as such, but because he didn’t act like a BOSS. If he wanted something, he would quietly ask me to get it, ‘when you have time’. Another thing that always amazed me about Dan is that he always would say, “Thank you for coming in.”

Thank you for coming in? I was being paid to come in and he made it sound like I was doing him a favor. This too was part of Dan.

His soft heart led him to give much more than he probably ever received and I have a feeling he was okay with that. While working for him, I wrote many checks for donations to organizations and people.

 “Those people need meals to eat, especially on the holiday,” he would say as he told me to write another check to the Rescue Mission. “The Rescue Mission does great work.”

“We have to support our veterans. Send money to them.” Giving just came naturally to Dan.

Dan spoke softly. He spoke so softly that oftentimes I would have to walk closer to him and ask him to repeat himself. “Dan, you speak softly like me and I can’t hear. We could be a comedy act!” I remember telling him.

I marveled at Dan’s patience. I often heard him talking to customer service representatives from companies such as the cable or electric or a credit card company. Most people would grow impatient with being put on hold, but not Dan. He would just say something like, “Okay, take your time. I’m not going anywhere,” and then he would sit there patiently waiting to get an answer to his question.

So yes, I had the good fortune to cross paths with a most gracious, giving, kind and patient gentle giant and I have been blessed more for it than I ever gave back to Dan. Rest in Peace Good Man. We miss you already but still feel your presence in our lives.