Daniel Vernon "Dan" Killeen

New London - Daniel Vernon Killeen gave up the ghost at 9:20 a.m. on the beautiful Saturday morning of Oct. 8, 2011. During his last days, Dan was visited by numerous relatives, distant and close, and friends, near and dear. Dan was also comforted by artists and musicians, many of whom he supported over the years through patronage or with employment at The Wine Merchant, the shop he owned and ran for over 25 years. The droves of eclectic visitors sparked such curiosity, one member of the hospital staff asked, "Who is in there, Paul McCartney?"

Dan was one of seven children born to Jeannette Home and John Holmes Killeen of Montville, and he spent his childhood feeding the chickens, slopping the hogs, milking the cow, and walking many miles through severe weather to and from school (uphill both ways). Dan became an unapologetic Red Sox fan from his first game at Fenway with his father in 1946, when he saw his idol, Ted Williams, play. He attended his last game with his sons in August 2011. And, as an armchair general manager, Dan felt he played a key role in ending the Curse of the Bambino.

Dan was a proud Bulkeley Boy where he played basketball. Following a promising run in 1950, Dan was dismayed to discover he would miss the 1951 season. Having joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at age 16, under circumstances never fully explained to family, he was called for active duty in 1950. The ‘51 Tigers won the State and New England Championships. Later, when asked what he'd been thinking about while headed to Korea, his only response was, "Well, I was going to miss the basketball season." At its 50 year reunion, members of the undefeated ‘51 team asked Dan to join them for the commemorative photo that ran in The Day. Dan referred to this as one of the greatest honors of his life.

After an honorable discharge for his service in the Korean War, Dan returned home for college and continued his standout basketball, playing at Mitchell where he was said to be the spark-plug of the team. He moved on to the University of Arizona in Tucson where he made many lifelong friends and received a bachelor of arts degree while working as the director of a church rectory.

Upon graduation, Dan grew his hair long, traded his creased slacks for bell bottoms, and tuned into the American counter culture of the 1960s. Dan traveled from Haight-Ashbury to New York where he worked the ‘64 World's Fair and even attended Woodstock. He enjoyed recounting the fundamental peace of the festival, despite the "poor organization." He was quick to point out, "The whole thing was blown out of proportion. It was filthy, and I left after two days!"

Dan's career as a personal property appraiser afforded him the opportunity to roam around the country enjoying the work and making friends. After more than 25 years at Cole Layer Trumble, Dan co-founded G&K Associates and later worked as an independent consultant. He was working for the towns of Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Salem at the time of his death. He was known for upsetting more than a few taxpayers with his remarkable abilities as an assossor.

Dan enjoyed spending his later years in the company of his children, David Wharmby and daughter-in-law, Belinda Basile, of Stamford, Greg Wharmby of Fairfield, Lee Killeen of Montville, Kimberly Santos and son-in-law, Frank Santos, of Ossining, N.Y.; as well as his grandchildren, Emily and Pamela Wharmby, Justin and Franklin Santos, and his newborn granddaughter, Juliana Santos, who he regretted not meeting.

Join family and friends for a Celebration of Dan's Life at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Hygienic Art Park in New London.

Should you like to do so, donations may be made in his memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center at www.splcenter.org