Daniel G. Zabel

Daniel G. Zabel, MPH, passed peacefully on Monday, July 28, 2014 at the age of 61. Dan grew up in Burlington, leaving his wife, Kathleen K. Zabel, his daughters, Tara Z. Pollock and her husband, Bradley Pollock, Amanda K. Zabel and her fiancée, Kaitlin Henley. Dan also leaves behind three beloved grandchildren, Emma Kathleen Pollock, Madeline Sue Pollock and Caleb Daniel Pollock. He also leaves his two brothers, David M. Zabel, his wife Lois, Thomas E. Zabel and his wife, Robin Lensi, his sister Sally Ann Coovert and her husband, Michael. He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar E. Zabel and Gladys V. Zabel. Dan was blessed to have many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. He retained abiding friendships with his Gettysburg College "brothers", Christopher Wilkinson and Dr. Jesse Ehrlich, who stayed by his side throughout his last few months. Dan had many accomplishments in his life, always enjoying his life and career. He attended Burlington Consolidated School, where he played the fife in Carey's Cadets, having the honor of playing at Colonial Williamsburg, going on to Region 10, where he excelled at tennis, debate team, attending Boys State and was President of his senior class. After Gettysburg College, he began working for the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under Governor Grasso, on to the University of Connecticut Health Science Center, where he received his Masters in Public Health, under Dr. James Mulvihill, continuing his career in Academic Medicine at the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, and SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn. Dan began a new position at Sheridan Healthcare when he became ill. Politics was Dan's great adventure. He was Burlington Democratic Town Chairman in the 1980's, and again in 2006. He was elected to the Region 10 Board of Education, the Board of Assessment Appeals, serving on many volunteer committees. He worked tirelessly for Federal, State and local Democratic candidates, many of whom he considered great friends. Dan's hobby was an incredible collection of Presidential Campaign pins, dating back to before Abraham Lincoln. Friends may call at The Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St., Rte. 4, Unionville, on Thursday, July 31, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 1, in The Ahern Funeral Home, at 10:00 am with the Rev. Wendell Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Center Cemetery, Burlington at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Burlington Volunteer Ambulance Corp., P.O. Box 1285, Burlington, CT 06031 or to the Lewis S. Mills High School Scholarship Fund, 26 Lyon Rd, Burlington, CT 06031, to be named in honor of Daniel G. Zabel. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.ahernfuneralhome.com