DAN CAREY PASSES, A TRUE LOSS FOR HARTFORD

I received the first call a little after 9:00am today informing me that Dan Carey was found dead in his home. I was in utter disbelief and had the feeling of helplessness as I felt nauseous.

I first met Dan Carey during the Mayor Mike years as I was one of the founders of Mayor Mike's Companies for Kids. Through the "Irish" circle of friends I found a group of people that were always ready to step up and make Hartford a better place. The Jim Donnelley's, the Bill Hogan's, and the Dan Carey's of our city. Dan was always instrumental in stepping up and doing his part to help make Mayor Mike's "Mayor's Trophy Golf Tournament" a huge success. He also loved his involvement in the "Sister's City" program with New Ross,County Wexford, Ireland and the picture above shows his pride as he was named Irish person of the year for 2009. Dan was always someone that was more than willing to help, but less than willing to be in the limelight. I think he was very content keeping a low profile in both his community efforts as well as running an extremely well organized operation in the Clerk's Office at City Hall. Dan would have no hesitation coming out from his office and from behind the counter in the Clerk's Office to help someone navigate the bureaucracy of City Hall. Whether he knew you or not, whether Republican or Democrat, Dan took his position as a public servant seriously. I know we always talk about people kindly after they pass, but with Dan, his Irish charm always shone through. Before many Council meetings Dan would find me in the hallway and quietly say "take it easy on them tonight" or during one of my rants before the Council give me a subtle wink of support.

Although Dan had a lot of great attributes, the two major ones that cemented my view of him were his love of Ireland and his over the top support of the Boston Red Sox. Any guy with those two charms is ok in my eyes, everything else was just icing on the cake. Dan was a true Red Sox fanatic and anyone that ever spent any time with him or walked into his office at City Hall would be well aware of that.

Dan, the City of Hartford and City Hall won't be the same without you. Your absence at Council meetings will be strongly felt. Say hello to our buddy Mayor Mike and may your Irish eyes continue to shine down on our city. Thanks for a job well done.

AN IRISH PRAYER
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again, May God hold
you in the hollow of his hand