Daniel Clark Brisson

Daniel Brisson, age 65, passed away in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his children on October 4, 2024 after a long standing battle with cancer.

Born on March 18th, 1959 and reared in Pleasantville, NY, Dan was the 5th of 6 children born to Robert Brisson, the town judge and attorney for the school board, and Elizabeth, a reading specialist teacher, volunteer and super mom. Growing up in a full house you would think it could be easy to fall into the background, but with Daniel, that was certainly not the case. Whether stirring up trouble with his adventurous spirit or warming hearts with his loving nature, Daniel stood out like a beacon in the sky.

Standing 6'3" tall, Dan had the build of a Viking and was a born athlete who dominated many sports throughout his school years, especially swimming & water polo. Having spent every summer throughout his young life at his families beach house in Maine, Daniel was a water creature at heart and there was hardly a place he loved more. Between playing bocci on the beach, eating fresh lobster or sitting and watching the waves crash against the green top; Family time in Maine was his pinnacle of joy.

Beyond water, Dan communed with all Nature and held a special kinship with the Trees. After graduating from SUNY at Morrisville in '79 with an Associate Degree in Applied Science: Natural Resource Conservation, Daniel went on to pursue his long career as an arborist. Daniel was by education and training an arborist extraordinaire. He was an artist in the Trees, graceful, and exact in his work. Watching him prune a Giant Oak swinging and clipping like an expert barber was a thing of beauty. He was always a steward of the Trees and a long standing member of the CT Tree Preservation Assoc.

Daniel had a way of balancing his life with the elements and this was apparent in the way he wove his work as an arborist with his other life long passion of rowing. In 1981, after being introduced to the world of rowing by his brother John, Daniel joined the New York Athletic Club and fell in love with the sport. Learning from and training side by side with his brother, Daniel made quite the entrance into the rowing community. From the start Dan was training daily alongside some of the fastest rowers in the Country, many of whom were and are legends in the sport. Rather than feeling discouraged or subpar, Dan loved the competition and was determined to match their level. A feat he brought to fruition faster than most could fathom.

From 1983-1991, Dan competed on 2 US Rowing teams: the 85' World Championships in Hazelwinkle and the 87' Pan Am Games in Indianapolis. In 85' Dan won the single, double and quad at the US National Championships; and had competitive placement at the '84 Olympic trials, '88 Olympic trials and '91 Pan Am trials. Dan also won many Fall races on the Connecticut, Schuylkill, Potomac rivers, and many Spring Regattas including the '87 US Olympic Sports festival, Independence Day and Canadian Henley quad & double.

The most amazing part of the story is, every day Dan would: Arrive to the NYAC boathouse at 5:15am, train for the world stage and then continue to work the most physically demanding 8 hour day as an arborist, all with an untiring energy and enthusiasm.

Whilst in the heart of his golden years of rowing, Daniel met his soon to be wife, Dori DeCarlo. In 1987 they married and by 88' they welcomed their first child Daniel David to the World, with their second son Robert following soon after in 89'. He continued his impressive pace of training, work and Fatherhood until the birth of his daughter Courtney in 92'. With his three children and wife at home, his passion was redirected completely to supporting his Family. Though in 1995 Daniels marriage ended, he never stopped being a Family man. Daniel was devoted and worked incredibly hard, every day, to provide for them without losing his wonderful humor, energetic voice and ever positive spirit. He truly loved each and every one of his 3 children and did everything he could to support their happiness. His favourite way of ensuring this was by bringing them up to the Family beach house in Maine every summer and creating memories together that will last lifetimes.

If only one word could describe who Daniel was, anyone who knew him would agree that Daniel, was a Lover. A lover of Life, a lover of Joy, a lover of his Children, Family and Friends. He was a lover of Nature and boy, was he a lover of Fun. Dan was a gentle giant with the spirit of a warrior and the heart of a child in love with the world and all its wonders. A true story teller whose eyes shone with magic and laughter and whose words touched the hearts of all who gave a listen, especially his children.

Daniel was a Dreamer so in tune with his imagination he could make you believe anything was possible. He was the kind of Father little kids flock to. And flock to him his children did; he nourished their minds with stories of old magic and Ancient ways. Of impossible feats being achieved through the power of the mind. His message was clear, anything is possible when you believe.

He spoke in fondness and had an innate ability to imbue love into every action, which was apparent not just with his children but also within his passion for rowing and arboriculture. From gliding his oars through the water, to removing a dead limb from a tree, each action was a metaphor that served a higher purpose.

Every morning row was a meditation, a direct connection to presence and the flow state. Each step in the woods and touch of a tree was an exchange of energy and receiving of wisdom. The passion and belief he held burned so bright it could shine the way to any achievement.

And shine the way he did.

In the last decade of his Life Daniel culminated his Life experience and passions into one soul purpose: coaching rowing. This beautiful art combined his love for rowing with his passion for storytelling and imparting metaphorical wisdom on eager minds.

Following this dream, in 2016, Dan moved to Arlington VA and began his new adventure. Over the years Dan coached at a variety of places, but most special in his heart were the young students who passion for the sport he was able to ignite. Perhaps it was seeing all of the infinite potential just waiting to be tapped into, perhaps it was the young minds so open to receive; either way one thing was certain, the students inspired Dan daily and in return he inspired them.

It was during a Spring/Summer coaching season in 2022 that Daniel was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and forced to stop midway through. As dire as his diagnosis was, Daniel was determined to heal and to return to his students. He moved in with his son & daughter and underwent treatments, utilising the power of the mind and his fierce will to live, to overcome his cancer and return to coach one final season in 2023. This feat is true a testament of his love of his students and his belief that anything is possible.

Though ultimately the cancer returned and ended his Life, what would become Dan's latest years, were some of his best;

From road tripping in his truck & rowing his way across the Country to paragliding and cliff jumping in Brazil.

From beach bocci & family time in Maine to the California coast & Redwoods

From work trading his arborist skills around the springs of Florida, to an artists retreat in Louisiana.

From completing a Vipassana course to living with a colorfully spiritual community in New Mexico.

From hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains to gazing at the Grand Canyon.

From numerous family dinners with his sons, daughters in law and grand children to big holiday feasts.

From visiting his daughter in Alaska to one final Brisson Family Bash in Maine: Dan truly lived and loved his life to the fullest.

Daniel is survived in love by his sons Daniel & Robert Brisson, his daughter Courtney Brisson, his daughter-in-laws Jocelyn Brisson & Nell Reinwald, his grandson Danny and his granddaughter Edie. As well as his siblings: Claudia Brisson, John Brisson & Jo Hannafin, Jane and Ben Siebecker, Marcia Brisson and Bob Foley and Amy Brisson. He was predeceased by his parents Robert and Elizabeth Brisson.

An intimate graveside service will be held on Saturday October 12th, 2024 at 11:00am at Wallkill Cemetery, 160 Midway Rd, Middletown, NY 10940

Followed by a Potluck for his Celebration of Life at 150 Gillette Rd, New Hartford, CT 06057 on Saturday October 12th, 2024 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy at https://www.nature.org/en-us/

May Dan's spirit be forever free and his memory live on in all whose lives he touched