April 12, 2010 
Dear carol, DJ and Kevin, our word are missing in french and even more in english to tell how much one month later we still under the chock. 
As you said we respected and admired him and his values and integrity. 
I(Amelie) will read the Great Santini.
It has been a great pleasure and honour to meet Dan. 
We love and miss you all.


Read more: http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=644385762507&page=3#ixzz0ktHLoY77

April 12, 2010 
Dear carol, DJ and Kevin, our words are missing in french and even more in english to tell how much one month later we still under the chock. As you 
said we respected and admired him and his values and integrity. It has been a great pleasure and honour to meet Dan. I (Amelie) will read the Great Santini.We love and miss you all. 


Read more: http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=644385762507&page=3#ixzz0ktHLoY77

My husband, my best friend of 44 years. My Knight in Shining Armour , my calm in the storm.  May you be pain free for the first time since 1969. Your endurance was amazing in light of all the medical obstacles.

  Our two fine sons became great men due to your guidance and "Great Santini" ideals. How lucky they were to have you as a friend and father.

We enjoyed the companship of many dogs and you loved all creatures big and small. Your talents were a secret to many, but I marveled at your ability. You never met a stranger and everyone who knew you respected and admired you and your values and integrity.  
We travelled the world and completed everything we hoped to accomplish. The sun, sky, stars and universe are yours to cherish and know that I too will share these with you forever.
 Gone way too soon and not in our forecast. You have provided me with a rich life.........I love and miss you.

I have loved you for 44 years, you were my Knight in Shining Armour, my best friend and lover. We traveled the world, raised two fine sons, now grown men, and "did out bucket list". Our dogs gave us many life long companions that we sharded unconditional love.   We  had more places to go and people to met, but your pain was always with you and your endurance was perhaps too much to carry. Hold me in your arms forever and I will watch the sun, stars and hear the surf for you.  You were one fine man, our own hero, our own Great Santini, I was the Warden and you gave  me a badge to wear to keep you close, I'll wear it now as you watch over me and protect me.

Not only were you my father but my friend too.Like two kids in the sandbox.I will always miss you.

The entire staff at Blue Book Publications, Inc. wishes to express our sympathies to the Sheils.  A donation was made in Dan's name to the Born Free Pet Shelter, and the lady who runs it is very grateful that your family thought of her and her four legged furkids.  
The 31st Edition Blue Book of Gun Values is dedicated to Dan, a longtime contributing editor.  He will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but will be remembered for his devotion, dedication, determination, and especially for never compromising in anything he believed in, regardless of the cost involved.  Semper fi Dan, rest in peace.
-Steve Fjestad, John Allen, Cassandra Faulkner, Beth Schreiber, Tom Stock, Zach Fjestad and the staff at Blue Book Publications, Inc.

We send our deepest sympathy and love.  Danny was a special part of our years at Miami High.

Joe and Dianne Bennett

Dear Carol, Judy, John and all the Sheil family:
I am so glad to have met all of you - back in the seventies at the Oar House (Miami).  The friendship between Bobby Gray and Danny was a most impressive one and I was lucky to have been on the fringe of the good times had by the two couples.   Carol, my feelings and heart go out to you.  I'm shocked and deeply saddened by his passing. Danny was a wonderful man; undoubtedly a man's man.  Judy - please contact me at JLA6945@aol.com; you have my sincerest sorrow; maybe the knowledge of all Danny's friends sympathies give you some strength.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Sheil family. Mr. Sheil inspired me to love pet photography. I developed his wildlife pictures at CVS and he became an inspiration to me. He helped me become a better photographer and he will greatly be missed.

I was so shocked to learn of your sad news. Please accept my sincere condolences. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

My sincerest and deepest sympathy to you all during this difficult time. My prayers and thoughts are with you. 


Teri (Minder) Altermatt. "Joe Minders Daughter"

Dear Carol ,Kevin and DJ, also on behalf of John Wielinga condolences for your loss. He always respected Dan and saw him not only as a client but also as a friend. When he returns from his trip he will surely contact you.I contacted him in Hong Kong and he was chocked to hear the news. He liked Dan a lot and always spoke with great respect about him. Annemarie.

Dear Carol, DJ and Kevin, I was so chocked when I read this awful news. I wanted to visit you all later this year and now we have to miss Dan so suddenly. My thoughts are with you and I hope you can find the strength to go on without him. I will allways remember the times we saw eachother in Holland and the wonderful stay in Miami. With all my love for the three of you, I will remember Dan as a dear friend and he will be missed by so many people.I will think of you with tears in my hart. Annemarie ( the Kid) from Amsterdam Holland.

Dear Carol, we only met a few times 40 years ago but I am so sorry for your loss.
Judy, my friend for over 40 years, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm here if you need me.
Love,
Barbara Lenhart (Denver, CO)

Dear Carol,
My thoughts have been with you since I received the terrible news about Danny.  You married into a GREAT family when you married Danny.  I think the Sheils adopted me, and vice versa, when I was only 15.
Danny will always be missed!
Marsha Spitalnick

I am Judy, Dannys' only sister.  This was so unexpected it was truly a shock to every one.   Danny was Superman, he lived another forty years after an accident that no one else would have survived.  I pray Carol, DJ and Kevin can learn to live without him comforted by the fact that he was such a good husband and father to them.

Dear Carol

Tammy and I are sorry to learn about your lost. Our prayers are with you and your family. I have wonderful memories of my friendship with Dany, that they will always be with me. I know that you will miss him,  He is  now  your Guardian Angel. May God Bless You. 

Willy Gort

Dear Carol, 
I am so sorry to hear about your loss, Danny was a great guy and my girls and I offer our condolences. I have fond memories of visitng the house by the falls, and of giving Kevin one of my old USMC Flight suits, Dan told me he used to sleep in it and wanted to be a Marine Pilot. 
To Danny:  "SEMPER FIDELIS" to a Marine, Handball Player and Comrade in Arms
Len Segarra, Miami, Fl.

Dear Carol
So sorry to hear about the loss of your dear husband.  My heart goes out to you. May you find comfort in the thoughts and prayers of your friends who love you.

I was so sorry to hear.  Dear Carol, what a terrible time this must be for you.  I think of you often.

Love and Prayers,

Barbara Steger

Danny, We will miss you. You always brought a cheerful spirit with you to all our reunions. I wish you could have made it to the 50th.

Dear Carol, DJ and Kevin,
Danny was a great handball player who loved the game and played with all of his heart every time he stepped on the court.  The entire handball fraternity of South Florida will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.  Danny was a great fried and competitor.

George Wilson

Dear Carol,
     My love to you and the boys.  I still remember how wonderful it was  having you all just across the street.
Being able to continue to see you after you moved was still great because we could still see the Sheils.  In your second house Louann had her first baby sitting job, and I never pass the street that I don't say, "Carol and Danny  lived there!"
Our thoughts are with you during this sad time, but Dan is in a wonderful place and will be watching over his family daily.
     My love to all of you, 
     Margaret Parker

I met Danny when he and my cousin, Carol Ann, had their reception in Gahanna, OH, and even though I never saw him again, my Mother kept me abreast of all the happenings of the Sheil family.  To my cousin, Carol, and my 2nd cousins, many fond memories will keep Dan alive for years to come.

Marcia (Dill) & Greg Whitaker

Our prayers are with you.  Bob remembers the ole Miami High days too.

Dear Carol, DJ, and Kevin,
Although many years have passed without contact, I have often thought of all of you and many wonderful shared memories.  Danny was a very special person, and I feel blessed that he touched my life.
Barbara Sager Bow

Dearest Neighbors,
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Watching Dan play with the dogs in the yard always brought a smile to my face.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Carol and family,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Andrea (Andi) Arnholt, Jane Campbell, Phillip Smith, Esther Smith and families.

Though the years have passed without much communication, the Sheil family has always been in my heart and mind.  I know there will be tough days ahead, but the memories you have will see you through.  The days passed too quickly!

I haven't seen Danny in about 40 years, but we met when my family came to Florida many years ago. We lived right down the street from his family.  My brothers are Buddy, Darrell and Greg Hawkes and I am Linda and we are all very sorry for your loss.

We have many happy memories of Danny and Carol. Gone but never forgotten.

We will greatly miss Dan's quiet presence and ready smile. He is gone much too soon. We are deeply sorry for your family's loss, and will keep you in our hearts and prayers.

 Dan was married to my special neice. He was a good man, husband, father and American. All of the stories about him that I have heard were laudatory of his character and person.I am confident they are true.

Our heartfelt prayers are with the Sheil family.  Danny was such good company with our QH Gym crew.  We will miss him dearly.

Danny was my best friend in junior high, at St Michaels, and later at Miami High.  I spent more time at his house than my own.  His family practically adopted me .  Although I had not seen Danny fofr many years, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t remember very fondly something he said, or something he (or we) did, or something he taught me and those memories will always be with me and treasured.  My deepest condolences to the family especially Judy and John whom I knew.

My brother was a "Man's Man" with a heart of gold. Had more friends than anyone I know! You left too soon! We will miss you. 
Your little brother.
John

My deepest sympathy to the entire family.  Pat (nephew)

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Danny Sheil – in memoriam

By Earl Sedlik, Miami Senior High School, President, Class of 1960 ad Stingaree Teammate

Danny’s spirit was our spirit – proud, rambunctious, dramatic, and… quiet.

Danny walked with a swagger and his head held high.  He was a full-sized adult when all of us were still growing into our bodies.  Danny’s self-confidence was all driven from within.  He never sought reflective glory.  He never relished the second-banana spot.  He was a solitary soldier - a lone-wolf with some mysterious insight.  He was our lone-wolf and the group loved to embrace him – even though he never sought group accolades.

Everyone at Miami High loved this guy.  His continuous grin and his soft style made instant friendships.  He was a football team teammate’s teammate.  He defined the energy, confidence, and determination it took to be a proud Stingaree.  He was a bit mysterious and yet he embodied all we stood for. 

We know that he faced one of life’s most difficult challenges and lived to become a successful man, husband, and father.  He brought cheer and confidence to all he touched.  He loved life and made us all see the value in camaraderie. 

Now, we are about to face our 50th reunion without Danny.  The teammates will gather with their friends and rejoice in the old days.  We’ll relive our glory days, but we’ll be lost.  We’ve suffered a real loss.  We’ll smile and cry when we remember Danny, all he was…, and all he became.

THIS DANNY SHEIL STORY MADE ME SEE MATURITY AND HUMILITY IN A NEW LIGHT… AT 17 YEARS-OLD.  THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

DANNY SHEIL SHOWS HIS CONTEMPORARIES HOW TO BE A MAN
So, it was spring – that in-between season at Miami High – basketball was over, baseball pre-season was underway, and spring football about to emerge from the bright winter blue sky.  Ron Linnartz, our first baseman extraordinaire, was driving a car-full of ball players, including me, a football lineman who relished being a spring training bullpen catcher, heading back to the locker room.  Baseball players had this special permission to park in the coaches’ parking lot to the west of the locker room on the corner of 3rd Street and 25th Avenue.  

As we drove down the home stretch on SW 3rd Street by the practice field – there was Danny –revving the engine in his new hot rod – probably at ’51 Ford.  Ron passed him, dropped into neutral, revved the engine, and zoomed ahead.  Danny took the bait and made a U-turn into a one-block drag race, which was over as soon as it began.  Ron made it to 25th Avenue first unaware that Danny was zooming in behind him.  Ron slowed down to cross the intersection.  Danny was still bombing at full speed.

Ron swung the car to the left as he prepared for a right turn into this normally unused parking lot.  This left no space for Danny to pass on the left.  Danny was going so fast that he was bewildered by this lateral move.  Danny couldn’t just stop.  He had to pass Ron.  Just as Danny rocketed to pass on the inside, Ron committed to his right had turn – BOOM! BANG!

Danny’s speeding car ricocheted off of Ron’ right front fender and smashed right into the parking lot’s chain-link fence.  In fact, Danny’s car seemed to climb up the fence, as glass was shattering all over the sidewalk.  I’m sure that Danny’s head hit the steering wheel or the windshield.  We were all fine, but Danny’s car and Danny took some serious damage.

About a month later, all the boys appeared in court in front of a judge.  Ron’s Dad was claiming that his son’s professional baseball career might be jeopardy from this accident.  For sure, Ron was programmed since he was 10 years old to be a baseball player.  I junior high, he even got special permission not to play softball because it would ruin his swing.  Ron did, in fact, sign a pro-contract after high school.  Well, that judge heard a story that made it seem that Danny had ruined Babe Ruth’s career.  We all knew that Ron was fine.  We were all fine, just sad that Danny wrecked his car and had to face a judge too!

Nevertheless, it was four against one.  It was Danny all alone in front of us and the judge.  Danny, my defensive stalwart football teammate, was facing four baseball players...and the judge.  As the story emerged that afternoon, I saw Danny as a new person – a real mench:
Danny agreed.  He was speeding.  He was wrong to pass on the inside.  He didn't mean to harm anyone.  He was sorry.  He’ll take his punishment.  
Wow, I thought.  I would have imagined that Danny would be furious that Ron cut him off by “faking” left and going right.  I would have been emotional, self-serving, and eager to challenge the others.  But, Danny was mature.  

Danny showed me, and the others, what it took to be responsible and to grow out of the “high-school prank” stage.  Danny showed us manhood.

Danny, the lone-wolf joker kind of guy who enjoyed life with a manly cherub face and a big-grin smile, really showed us all what real life was supposed to be.

Later, after college, I learned that Danny, a Dade County motorcycle officer in 1965, was hit by a car when escorting a funeral.  The rumor, that made it to Seattle, was that a wealthy guy affiliated with the funeral offered to pay Danny’s college expenses in honor of his bravery.  I learned that he had a long and rough recovery, but made it through with new determination.

We were all very proud of Danny.  He had turned this tragedy into a life-changing celebration.  All reports thereafter confirmed that Danny lived to fulfill many of his dreams.  We’ll miss him.

Danny was my best friend from jr high through high school.  I practically lived at his house and have so many wonderful memories of him and his family which practically adopted me.  Although it has been almost 50 years since I last saw Danny, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember something he said or something we did together, or something I learned from him.  My deepest condolences to his family.  Danny will always live in my heart.

Peter Christiansen

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.  May your memories bring you comfort.

OBITUARY

Daniel Joseph Sheil

September 18, 1941 – March 9, 2010

Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens

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