To Honor and Remember

This is a place for us to honor, remember and pay tribute to one another. If you have important event, occasion or memory that you want to share, let Becky know and it will be posted here.

Remembering Dan Hurtado

We are so proud to have known and loved Dan Hurtado. Dan, also known as Dano and Spud, passed away unexpectedly in the Fall of 2007. Many of us were shocked and devastated by his death. We will miss him tremedously. We are sharing some of our favorite Dano stories and photos here.

To all the Dukes,

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to all of you who supported me with your presence at my son’s funeral, sent flowers, sympathy cards, Mass offerings, and your prayers.  It has been a most difficult time, but your friendship and thoughtful ways has made it more bearable. 

My sincere appreciation,

Diva Hurtado and family

Here is an old Dukes photo from 1981 showing some tenacious defense by Dan.  He was a great competitor and was "born ready."  That is, ready for anything.  He always had a smile and a friendly word for all.  He will be missed.

Stuart Beringer

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Another photo from Stu. This one he took at URI in 1981. Go Dan!

It’s weird to say this, but I think we are incredibly lucky.   Our collective spirit is huge. Our friendship is an overpowering force.  Dan-O IS part of this.  Now.

(But for now I think I will just cry myself to sleep for it is so sad)

Dan Buckley

The thing that stands out for me most at this moment was Dano's laugh.
It was infectious, wanted to hear it wanted to be near it.
He had a passion for life and living it.
Is there anything more wonderful than Darius and Dano laughing together?
Only to be rivaled by the entry of Soch and Joe Bot...
North Carolina, the Time-out, Freestyle, Tourists
The image of him in the Duke colors...
He looked so good in that Hawaiian shirt and headband, I can see him now.
The intensity of the man known as Dano to us was huge!
Harder on himself yet kinder to us all.
I was so impressed with him working full time and pushing though his MBA.
Jealous that he had the career drive that I somehow squandered elsewhere maybe?
A commitment to a beautiful bride and a Queen to the Dukette's
Do you remember how psyched and proud he was of what I think was his first new car?
That red VW Jetta I think, fast, sweet, sleek, so proud to say he was breaking it in as his Father had said, "Break it in as you plan to drive it"
In that way Dano lived one of our Duke motto's: Go fast, take chances and lock 'em up when you can...
Although to close to the Cloverleaf for me ...The Sugar Shack where the game and point sheets flowed, the college games so closely and passionately followed.
Not for the spread but for the passion of what he called a "true sport" and where it lived, not professional but amateur, like us, like him.
Dano some how always made me feel better for being around him.
He may have always been hard on himself but never on anyone else.
Unless of course you were taking issue with someone he loved,
He was a man that had the conviction to rise up and defend his family and friends with out question.
The classic man that you would want in your corner in tough times.
During our recent Spring alumni game I had a chance to sit with Dano and talk to him about Kristin and the boys.
He told me of how he had hired some professional skateboarders for his sons' birthday and they had blocked of the street for the event.
Again so impressed with his care for others and the uniqueness of thought.
Realizing in such a hard way now that we have all grown up with Dano.
We are not grown up but have grown up together, like Cone said you could change the name and it would be me.
Deuce said to me with startlingly simplicity that this is the first of us to pass...
So real, yet so hard to believe. As 80-B said I can not take it in right now...
Dano was a leader, we would be down but he never counted us out
When the going gets tough the tough get weird!
I don't remember Dano getting weird like some of us but I do know his toughness and spirit,
A spirit that I hope to hold within me forever...
The seven healthy men on the field spirit
A leading edge spirit...
Dano as Uncle Duke I guess just decided to lead the way for us...
Unfortunately it was not his choice...

We'll be looking for you in the open, up field Dano
You scored huge in this game!!!!

Looking forward to the next...Zoop (Peter Aubry)

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