Daniel Demcyszyn U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer, Retired, 50, of Shiremanstown, died Tuesday, March 23, 2004 in Harrisburg Hospital. He was last stationed in Memphis Tenn. Naval Air Station. He had 3 daughters.
I grew up down the alley from Dan and knew him since I was 5 years old. Growing up, Dan always went to a "special school" but I never understood why until we were in junior high. He had some learning disabilities but I never considered him any less of a person because he was the best friend anyone could ever hope to have. His two brothers, John and Scott, and my brothers Wushtie and Mike, along with Dan and I played "Army" and explored the old Atlas cement plant ruins from daybreak to sunset and knew the old buildings and secret hideaways like our own backyard. We would all pile into the back of his mother's pickup and we'd head out to new adventures whether it was hot, cold, sunny, raining or snowing. We were in the Navy at the same time and always had fun picking at each other about him being a "skimmer" or "blackshoe" (surface Navy) and me being a "brown shoe" or "airedale" (Naval aviation). He married a beautiful Irish gal and asked me to be his best man in Ireland. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't try harder to get the time off to do it. Uncle Sam has a way of making things difficult but I've never forgiven myself. He was blessed with three beautiful daughters and they have all grown up to be successful. Dan's mother was as close to a second mother to me than anyone ever was and I still keep in touch with her. My memories of Dan and growing up in Northampton with him will always be cherished. I miss him terribly.
Daniel Demcyszyn U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer, Retired, 50, of Shiremanstown, died Tuesday, March 23, 2004 in Harrisburg Hospital. He was last stationed in Memphis Tenn. Naval Air Station. He had 3 daughters.
James Schneider
I grew up down the alley from Dan and knew him since I was 5 years old. Growing up, Dan always went to a "special school" but I never understood why until we were in junior high. He had some learning disabilities but I never considered him any less of a person because he was the best friend anyone could ever hope to have. His two brothers, John and Scott, and my brothers Wushtie and Mike, along with Dan and I played "Army" and explored the old Atlas cement plant ruins from daybreak to sunset and knew the old buildings and secret hideaways like our own backyard. We would all pile into the back of his mother's pickup and we'd head out to new adventures whether it was hot, cold, sunny, raining or snowing. We were in the Navy at the same time and always had fun picking at each other about him being a "skimmer" or "blackshoe" (surface Navy) and me being a "brown shoe" or "airedale" (Naval aviation). He married a beautiful Irish gal and asked me to be his best man in Ireland. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't try harder to get the time off to do it. Uncle Sam has a way of making things difficult but I've never forgiven myself. He was blessed with three beautiful daughters and they have all grown up to be successful. Dan's mother was as close to a second mother to me than anyone ever was and I still keep in touch with her. My memories of Dan and growing up in Northampton with him will always be cherished. I miss him terribly.
Jim Schneider