DANIEL JAMES GIBSON FLETCHER, Vt. - Daniel James Gibson, 60, of Fletcher, Vt. passed away unexpectedly from a ruptured aortic aneurism while hiking at Mt. Independence in Orwell, Vt. on Monday, March 29, 2010. He was a devoted and beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague and master. Dan was born in Colon, Panama on June 6, 1949 the son of Albert and Irene (Lawrence) Gibson. On Aug. 8, 1987 he married Maria Short, his best friend and life partner. They made their home for the past 25 years on eighteen beautiful acres and a 200 year old farm house in Fletcher. Dan surrounded himself with animals and plants, tending his flowers more than his vegetables. Over the years, he cared for and loved many dogs, cats and farm animals. He hobby-farmed Rambouillet sheep, a fine wool breed, until the money ran out. He had a particular love for border collies, who he trained to herd the flock and rush after Frisbees. Dan graduated from Burlington High School in 1967 and the University of Vermont in 1971 with a degree in zoology. He returned to UVM to study Wildlife Management. He started working at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont chemistry laboratory in 1978 then went on to complete a year of study in medical technology at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine in 1979. Dan continued to work at what evolved into Fletcher Allen Health Care, becoming a laboratory section manager and eventually directing Point of Care Testing. Since 2008 he has been a standards specialist in regulatory readiness for the Jeffords Institute for Quality. He enjoyed collaborating with his colleagues as they worked to assure quality healthcare at the hospital. Dan was recognized throughout the hospital. He was known for his intelligent problem solving, great sense of humor, and flamboyant neck ties. Although he never balanced his check book, he was elected treasurer of his high school class. Dan remained committed to his classmates, planning reunions and staying in touch with lifelong friends. He was active in the community. He had served as race director for the Fairfax Relays for many years. This cross country race was part sport and part carnival as athletes ran in costume to excellent rock music Dan selected. He spent many hours volunteering to clear a trail at the school for running and skiing. He was proud of his sons' sports accomplishments and became a loyal fan to Bellows Free Academy Fairfax cross country running, Nordic skiing, track and field and basketball. Dan started his life in Panama and is remembered for his early interest in animals as he dangerously coaxed a venomous fer-delance snake to play. Moving to Burlington as a preschooler, Dan's family bought the last completed house on the dirt road end of North Avenue. Across the street the cornfield would become Northgate. He loved his neighborhood and found ready friends to adventure down to the mouth of the Winooski River or set up soldiers on a back step. He and his father would fish for perch and his mother would cook up what they wrestled off of hooks. He wouldn't want to come inside were it not for "Winky-Dink and You" on TV and comic books to read. Living the Forest Gump life, Dan came of age in the turbulent sixties. He protested the Vietnam War while his birthday was drawn last in the 1969 draft lottery. He loved rock and roll music and found his way to Woodstock, and later picked himself out on the cover of Life magazine in that sea of muddy, sunbaked hippies. Always fulfilling his responsibilities to his job and family, Dan was happiest starting a day with no plans, heading out to drive rural Vermont with his camera and kayak, and spontaneously finding a hike. A life-long learner, he carried his field guides to better understand the flora. He knew the common and Latin names for many of Vermont's wild plants. He could describe the dance of the honey bee in detail. On more than one occasion a wild bird would recognize him as a part of nature and land on him. Dan was a passionate and accomplished skier and completed countless runs down Smuggler's Notch black diamond trails with grace and athleticism. In warmer weather he took frequent hikes up to the top of one of Smuggs' three peaks. He spent hours gazing out across the mountain tops in the warm breeze noticing what nature had to offer while his dogs panted nearby. He wanted to live his life like he was on vacation. Having an eternally youthful father had its benefits as Dan modeled play. He is remembered for planning elaborate birthday parties with themes to delight children. He wanted his kids to take life-advancing risks and saw no problem in his son dying his hair blue. He was a gentle and loving father who wanted the best for his kids. Dan hoped they would learn from what he saw as his mistakes. Dan has wisely moved on before the black flies hatched this spring. There were things that he didn't get to or do enough of (the bucket list): advancing his spirituality, visiting Ireland again, planting trees, driving cross country, composing a satisfactory photo landscape, arguing politics, biking Acadia, continuing to help with purple loose strife research, taking further pride in his sons as they each graduate this year, hiking in the soft rain, holding a future grandchild, dancing to Led Zeppelin, cutting sprays of lilacs to place by the bed, advancing social justice, paddling the Connecticut River, understanding Eckhart Tolle, improving the environment, catching anything in the fishing derby, and seeing the Redskins win another Super Bowl. Most importantly he did not get enough of laughing, crying, and relaxing with his loving friends. But, in the end, it was all, just enough. Thank you Dan for making us a part of your joyful ride. Dan is survived by his wife of 22 years, Maria Short, his son Connor Gibson and foster son Jeremy Lawrence (to whom he leaves his blue suede shoes), all of Fletcher; his sisters June Lee and her husband, Frank, of Fairfax and Gloria Gibson of Colchester; his parents inlaw Hugh and Florence Short of Richford; brothers- and sisters-in-law Frank and Helen Short of St. Albans, Michael Short of Burlington, Katie Bell of Sacramento, Calif., Maureen Short and Stan Katz of New Haven, Peter Short of Guerneville, Calif., Mariellen and Matthew Facchino, of San Jose, Calif., Christine Short of Putney, Eileen Short and Densil Hendrickson of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Julia and Scott Batdorff of Portland, Ore., and Deirdre Short of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Dan was uncle to Mike and Jennifer Lee and their children Jason, Jen, and Matthew of Burlington, Patrick and Justin Lee of Shelburne, Sue Lee and her daughter Jamie Robare of Burlington, Michelle and Layne Ballard and their children Catherine and Bryce of Gettysburg, Pa., and Christopher and Carrie Lee of Jericho. He was uncle-in-law to 21 nieces and nephews, and granduncle to many more. He was a fresh air father to Ian Weekes of Manhattan, NYC hosting him for eight. He leaves countless special friends, too many to name but too precious to forget. He will be missed by his beloved border collies Cady and Glen, two very friendly cats, Chester and Big Cat, the birds at the feeder, and the ravens he fed up in the woods. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Apr. 5, 2010 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ready Funeral & Cremation South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Apr. 6, 2010 at 11 a.m. in St. Mark Catholic Church, North Avenue, Burlington. A memorial celebration will follow the mass where people can share their recollections; place to be announced. A community page may be found on Facebook under "Dan Gibson Memories." In memory of Dan please consider a donation to the Vermont Land Trust, 8 Bailey Avenue, Montpelier, Vt. 05602. T
