Daniel Ashby "Dan" Nutt

1950 - 2024

Waterford - Daniel Ashby "Dan" Nutt, 73, passed away peacefully at home Feb. 17, 2024, after a brief illness. In his last hours, he was surrounded by his loving family.

Dan was born to Barbara and Harry L. Nutt of Unity, Maine, and graduated from Mount View High School in Thorndike. After high school, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country in Vietnam, where he spent much of his time as a helicopter door gunner, a post at which many soldiers did not last a full tour.

After returning home from Vietnam, Dan moved to Connecticut, where he became a Waterford police officer. Dan was a natural leader and teacher, and as a police officer, he had an expansive impact. Over the years, he trained upcoming officers, taught the D.A.R.E. curriculum in schools, held regular women's self-defense classes, trained police work dogs, ran the Waterford police boat patrol, and served as a special weapons and tactics officer. In these roles, Dan served the Town of Waterford and the surrounding community for 25 years with pride, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. After retirement from WPD, Dan worked in the Old Lyme schools as a resource officer, finally retiring fully in 2020.

Dan lived an exemplary life of service to others, but most of all, he loved and cared for his friends and was a devoted family man. If you had the pleasure of Dan's friendship you know he loved hosting, making sure everyone enjoyed themselves and relaxed while he stoked the fire, cooked the steak, and handed you a drink. To some, Dan was an imposing presence, but his friends and family remember him as having the best laugh, the driest wit, and the perfect timing for jokes.

Dan is survived by his wife Cindy; daughters, Jessica Rydel (Peter) and Rebecca Nutt (Chris Lavoie); son Daniel Nutt Jr.; grandchildren: Jacy Matthews (Jennessee), Sander Silverman, Sidney Silverman, Connor Rydel, Caitlin Rydel, Cayden Lavoie, Bentley Lavoie and Khloee Lavoie; siblings, Gina Henderson (AJ) and David West (Patricia); siblings-in-law, Lynn Nazarko (Paul), Lisa Barile (Sam), and James Marcella (Valerie); mother-in-law Elizabeth Marcella; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. A celebration of Dan's life will be held at 7 p.m. after the visitation. Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave the family an online condolence.