I was next-door neighbors with Dana; we both lived close to Jay Carlson and Bob Bernick. When the four of us ever got together, the world had to look out! Deep down inside there were things that made Dana sad, but he would never let anyone know, covering everything over with toys and partying. He was very smart and could pretty much do whatever he set his sights on. Girls found him attractive, guys liked hanging out with him. I miss his wit and good nature.
Ohhh Dana, he loved music. He loved to ski. He loved his families: Mom, sisters, and he loved his kids. He loved to travel, and we traveled together: Summer of 1970, just a week after graduation, we traveled with George Sansom and Brent Knell down to Disneyland. Then in my VW camper van up Route 1--amazing. We were all together in Big Sur where we slept out on the dunes above the roaring surf. Dana and I followed the coast all the way up to Seattle, where his Dad was living.
We became better, even best, friends after graduation. He was best friend to many. We backcountry skiied Days Fork up Big Cottonwood thru the powder on skinny skis. He was so skilled at turning. We went backpacking south of Moab down to the confluence. In 1976, Dana and his two dogs, Sabastian and River, and I went for a couple weeks into the Wind Rivers. We first hiked into the Cirque of Towers going out by Texas Pass then on to beautiful Shadow Lake. We returned to the Big Sandy opening and got in his blue VW wagon and, listening to Irish music, traveled thru Pinedale and into Elkhart Park. We hiked into Titcomb Basin and then went up a mountain from there. I think it was Fremont Peak. I remember it was thundering and lightening all around and we had to hide out under a rock slab near the summit.
Our last big trip together was in the Absaroka Mountains of Montana. We caught a ride from where I was living in Bozeman to a trailhead outside of Livingston Montana, then we hike for 10 days thru these spectacular mountains down to Cook City. We saw bears along the way, a cinnamon-colored black bear the first day, then a ma with cubs later on in the trip.
As years went by, however, we lost touch. I did see his boy Cody when he was just a baby, and talked to him on the telephone after I got married and was living in Bountiful. I talk to his mother Rosemary about once a year. She is doing well, moved away from Shirley Lane, and that has helped her overcome her grief. All who knew him still love Dana and remember him with glad hearts.
Sorry to hear of Dana's passing. He and Jay Carlson and I were in a band together...many...many years ago. He loved to play the guitar and was very good. Those were the days !
Dana...miss him and his enigmatic smile...his spirit...his adventure. Dana probably had so many best freinds in his circle. I thought of him as mine as well. We skied together every weekend with our Alta season passes throughout our junior and senior years. We'd challenge each other to "tuck" out a section of mountain to see who could get to the bottom the fastest...a game that cost him a serious cut on the head the last time we tried it. We camped and partied together throughout high school and beyond a bit until I wandered West. We went to countless rock concerts together in high school and beyond. Dabbled in the drugs together, played music, hung with our firends. I visited with him and his wife with George Sansom some Chiristmas in the 80's when I'd make my annual visit from SF to SLC and it was evening I will always remember. The memories that were shared the stories we shared and his spirit as bright as ever. He was the least judgmental person I ever knew. He accepted you for who your were, who you wanted to be, and overlooked you shortcomings. He had the coolest mom I'd ever known. We parked cars for her business together, smokin j's and talkin' bands. Wild kids we were.
I was sorry the excesses of our youth and the enticements of the times were ultimately the cause of his demise. I have lost too many of my acquaintances to the drugs that marked our passing era. It's a miracle I've survived it all myself. It was such a shock that Dana of all people was a casualty.
I don't know how many little cliques Dana was really in...he had so many friends, but I remember and treasure the little group I hung with including Dan Judd, Mark Jardine, Doug Harwood, Scoot Olsen, Rocky Egan,George Sansome and occasional others whom I'm sorry if I don't remember at the moment of this writing.
Anyway...I just had to leave a little note for Dana here and those that stop by to remember him. He was well loved and I remember him fondly now...and for the rest of my life.
Dana and I were roommates during a very pivotal and transformational year in our lives. I was in graduate school at the University of Utah and Dana was working construction. We found an incredible deal on a small adobe house on a third of an acre with fruit trees and a wood burning stove in the kitchen. Dana was the most easy going and least judgmental person I have ever met. I have some very inspiriing memories with him sharing his love for intense outdoor adventures and his mountain property near Telluride, Colorado. Without even trying, he was the "coolest" friend I ever had. I look forward to seeing him again.
Darwin Ross
I was next-door neighbors with Dana; we both lived close to Jay Carlson and Bob Bernick. When the four of us ever got together, the world had to look out! Deep down inside there were things that made Dana sad, but he would never let anyone know, covering everything over with toys and partying. He was very smart and could pretty much do whatever he set his sights on. Girls found him attractive, guys liked hanging out with him. I miss his wit and good nature.
Dan Judd
Ohhh Dana, he loved music. He loved to ski. He loved his families: Mom, sisters, and he loved his kids. He loved to travel, and we traveled together: Summer of 1970, just a week after graduation, we traveled with George Sansom and Brent Knell down to Disneyland. Then in my VW camper van up Route 1--amazing. We were all together in Big Sur where we slept out on the dunes above the roaring surf. Dana and I followed the coast all the way up to Seattle, where his Dad was living.
We became better, even best, friends after graduation. He was best friend to many. We backcountry skiied Days Fork up Big Cottonwood thru the powder on skinny skis. He was so skilled at turning. We went backpacking south of Moab down to the confluence. In 1976, Dana and his two dogs, Sabastian and River, and I went for a couple weeks into the Wind Rivers. We first hiked into the Cirque of Towers going out by Texas Pass then on to beautiful Shadow Lake. We returned to the Big Sandy opening and got in his blue VW wagon and, listening to Irish music, traveled thru Pinedale and into Elkhart Park. We hiked into Titcomb Basin and then went up a mountain from there. I think it was Fremont Peak. I remember it was thundering and lightening all around and we had to hide out under a rock slab near the summit.
Our last big trip together was in the Absaroka Mountains of Montana. We caught a ride from where I was living in Bozeman to a trailhead outside of Livingston Montana, then we hike for 10 days thru these spectacular mountains down to Cook City. We saw bears along the way, a cinnamon-colored black bear the first day, then a ma with cubs later on in the trip.
As years went by, however, we lost touch. I did see his boy Cody when he was just a baby, and talked to him on the telephone after I got married and was living in Bountiful. I talk to his mother Rosemary about once a year. She is doing well, moved away from Shirley Lane, and that has helped her overcome her grief. All who knew him still love Dana and remember him with glad hearts.
R K
Sorry to hear of Dana's passing. He and Jay Carlson and I were in a band together...many...many years ago. He loved to play the guitar and was very good. Those were the days !
Brent Christensen
Dana...miss him and his enigmatic smile...his spirit...his adventure. Dana probably had so many best freinds in his circle. I thought of him as mine as well. We skied together every weekend with our Alta season passes throughout our junior and senior years. We'd challenge each other to "tuck" out a section of mountain to see who could get to the bottom the fastest...a game that cost him a serious cut on the head the last time we tried it. We camped and partied together throughout high school and beyond a bit until I wandered West. We went to countless rock concerts together in high school and beyond. Dabbled in the drugs together, played music, hung with our firends. I visited with him and his wife with George Sansom some Chiristmas in the 80's when I'd make my annual visit from SF to SLC and it was evening I will always remember. The memories that were shared the stories we shared and his spirit as bright as ever. He was the least judgmental person I ever knew. He accepted you for who your were, who you wanted to be, and overlooked you shortcomings. He had the coolest mom I'd ever known. We parked cars for her business together, smokin j's and talkin' bands. Wild kids we were.
I was sorry the excesses of our youth and the enticements of the times were ultimately the cause of his demise. I have lost too many of my acquaintances to the drugs that marked our passing era. It's a miracle I've survived it all myself. It was such a shock that Dana of all people was a casualty.
I don't know how many little cliques Dana was really in...he had so many friends, but I remember and treasure the little group I hung with including Dan Judd, Mark Jardine, Doug Harwood, Scoot Olsen, Rocky Egan,George Sansome and occasional others whom I'm sorry if I don't remember at the moment of this writing.
Anyway...I just had to leave a little note for Dana here and those that stop by to remember him. He was well loved and I remember him fondly now...and for the rest of my life.
Steven Kaelin
Dana and I were roommates during a very pivotal and transformational year in our lives. I was in graduate school at the University of Utah and Dana was working construction. We found an incredible deal on a small adobe house on a third of an acre with fruit trees and a wood burning stove in the kitchen. Dana was the most easy going and least judgmental person I have ever met. I have some very inspiriing memories with him sharing his love for intense outdoor adventures and his mountain property near Telluride, Colorado. Without even trying, he was the "coolest" friend I ever had. I look forward to seeing him again.