Daniel McIntosh – Eulogy Read at Funeral Services 15 March 2010

When I was young, my grandfather passed away. I remember I wasn’t quite old enough to process all it. My older cousin Katie was asked to read a verse during the mass. Katie was that cousin that I really looked up to, she would kind of keep me in line at family functions, she always made time to play with me and the younger kids, and always had a smile. During the mass, Katie cried throughout the entire reading and the mass, she was inconsolable. This struck me enough that I still have the vivid memory after many, many years. It was the only time I ever saw here like this. What was equally striking was what the priest said to calm the situation. The priest said that people who cry at funerals cry for their own pain and loss. My grandfather was no longer in pain and was in heaven experiencing joy that we could not know on earth. These words have been with me ever since. Today we have all lost someone truly special and it is ok to cry. However, Dan Mac loved life and loved each of us, so it is ok to smile and laugh today too, because we all know he would have made us laugh through this.

Dan had just become our most senior “guy” after the retirement of his old partner Rob Wild last Friday. I’ll get to the significance of that in a minute. But Dan has been around so long that I got to work with him on many occasions and although I had only gotten to meet a few of his family members before this week, we often spoke about them. First Beth, I’ve known you for many years now. Long before you were with Dan. I cannot express in words how your grief personally affects me. Please do not let me be a stranger in the coming days, months, and years. Never be afraid to reach out if the overwhelming responsibility of daily life keeps us apart. You’re two beautiful children Delaney and Addison will be there for you. They will be your comfort and your strength. Anyone who knows Dan, knows he kept nearly all of his emotions tight to the vest. We also know that he simply could not keep all of the joy he felt toward the kids in. All of the “Daddies and Dada’s” melted his heart and enlightened his soul. They are his light and his happiness. They will be his legacy and yours. We, your extended family, are there to help you when the need arises.

Dan loved his father Gary and his mother Maureen. He loved to tell stories about working with his dad; his mom and sister Kate and their horses. I’ve heard many tales about Brian and his motorcycles, and quads and how you gave him something to talk about with some of the antics involved with building them and riding them. Finally, there’s Jay, I’ve met you a few times when you came down to help Dan work on people’s houses and other things. You were Dan’s boy, he loved to tell a funny Jay stories and I could tell he was always watching out for you.

Gary and Maureen, Pop and Momo, Beau and Ellie, Pop Pop and Mom Mom, this is a time to bond. We all have Delaney and Addison to look out for. You as the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the family, please don’t be afraid to reach out when times are tough and make things right for the girls.

As I said before, Dan had just become our senior man. The senior man means a lot in the station. He is our go to guy when the chips are down and the supervisors can’t seem to get to the troops. The senior man is the guy new members look to for guidance, and aspire to be. The examples set by the senior man carry the organization in all it does. We will continue to look to Dan to set the example and inspire us.

Dan was a quiet guy. He would sit in the ambulance or the barber chair at the beginning and end of every shift. He would participate in the conversation, but all the while he would be watching and waiting to strike. His wit was quick and he would pounce at the right moment, making us all roar to a belly laugh. Usually this was at one of our expense. No one was off limits and no one was safe. It kept us in check to say the least.

Dan was one of the best paramedics that I have ever had the privilege to work with. No matter how bad the call, what the situation, his demeanor never changed. You would be up to your elbows in a situation and he would just quietly start working. You followed. Afterwards, he’d make sure to point out some miniscule thing and he exaggerated into the prime focus of the call and have you laughing. I often described him as one of the few paramedics I would let work on my kids.

We as emergency workers cope with the daily tragedies we face with laughter. It’s called gallows humor and many of the public simply cannot understand it. An example that I’d like to share with you occurred in 2003. We set Dan up. Dan was a fairly new supervisor and we decided to give him a trial by fire. The Squad set up a secret drill that involved multiple patients involved in a bus accident. These things normally take a great deal of logistics to set up. I’m still amazed that we pulled it off. Basically we began our regular monthly employee meeting. As the employees sat down, the county dispatched a call for a bus accident at the end of the long dispatch, the dispatcher announced that “this is a drill”. Well if looks could kill. Dan immediately realized what we had done to him. I think he was more flustered that we got him then about the drill itself. After Dan drove past the exercise two or three times with the lights and siren on he arrived on scene went to work and got the job done. After the drill Dan and another guy visible flustered went for coffee. They walked into the coffee shop and the clerk asked what was wrong. Dan with his ever present wit told them a story of a bus accident and described the gruesome scene that they had just come from. His partner instantly caught on and went with it. After the tall tale was told he calmly asked for two large coffees as if nothing had ever happened and walked out of the store. Dan giggled for days as he and his partner recanted the story.

Dan also believed in getting the job done whatever it takes. It’s our squad motto. Sometimes formalities get pushed aside to save a life.

Dan only had two steady partners the entire time he worked at Bensalem Rescue. Robert Wild and Chris McLarnon. He loved them both and ordered me to schedule him with them whenever he was separated from them. He knew that they had his back and the bonds formed with a good partner cannot be broken. We now all have your back Dan.

Dan loved what he did as his chosen profession. Dan had many opportunities to work full time elsewhere, but he always chose to stay with Bensalem. We were family. He would take any training or task to challenge himself. He worked tirelessly with us. When he wasn’t working for us. He volunteered as a firefighter. Dan spent about five years as a firefighter with Nottingham Fire Company. He was one of my brothers there as well. Dan was a life member of Point-Pleasant Fire Company and recently Dan became a part time police officer in Hulmeville Borough. Dan requested to be assigned to serve as a tactical paramedic on both the Bucks County South SWAT Team and the Bucks County Hazardous Materials SWAT Team. After our last SWAT training Dan was feverishly adjusting his gear and evaluating his equipment because he was not happy with his performance and it was unthinkable for him to fail one of his officers should they need his assistance.

Dan’s life of service did not come without sacrifice. The many nights away from home. Missing the kids. Working on little sleep, long hours, the cold, the rain, it goes on and on and on. Tonight, let us take a moment to thank all of our families whom sacrifice a great deal to allow us to be EMS personnel, firefighters, and police as Beth has this done for Danny. Even in his death, Dan continues to serve. His cornea, long bones, and other tissues were donated to the Gift of Life program so that others may be healed. Dan’s work will continue with us for a long time to come. His memory will set the example and drive our strong organization to excellence.

Dan literally touched thousands of people’s lives throughout his career. For those of you that did not know Dan, I would love to say so much more to explain Danny Mac to you. I’d ask you now to look at the person to your right, to your left, and someone not seated near you. This is the best way I can describe Dan to you. He is a part of everyone here. He is our common thread, he had the same unknown intangible thing that runs through us and calls us to our duty. Dan died doing what he loved. He has touched everyone one of our lives and we are better for it. God bless you Brother, it’s time to rest. We got it from here. Whatever it takes, we’ll get the job done.