Dan Shell

This summer has had way too much sadness. It started with Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain taking their own lives, then a teenage boy lost his life at Lorelei in an accident, and now Dan Shell, a coworker and friend, has left this world too soon. Dan retired on June 1st and passed away suddenly on June 18th. That alone is heartbreaking.  I have such a hard time processing death. Most do I would assume. It seems writing helps me though and I hope this helps his family and friends. Dan was a fellow teacher at Blanchester since I started there in the fall of 1996, one of the old guard as Kathy Kellum used to say. With Dan and Bennie Carroll retiring this year I think that makes me and John the elders. We'll try to hold down the fort guys. Dan taught in the ag wing which was far removed from the quiet shelves of the library but we'd see each other frequently at lunch, in the halls, around the office and such. Dan provided entertainment most days, I won't insert the picture of his outfit at this year's pep rally but you can imagine he made it memorable. This year preparing for graduation we couldn't find some things and honestly, there were things I was just never in charge of that Dan stepped in and just took care of for me this year. No one has extra time at the end of the school year especially someone trying to pack up 35(?) years of stuff for retirement but Dan got his tools out and fixed some things for us voluntarily. There are three very distinct times I learned about Dan Shell. First, when he was a fellow basketball coach with John. Any coaching takes so much time and energy but basketball seems to be the longest season ever and Dan gave his heart to many players at Blanchester. Second, when Harbor was a senior he had some time in his schedule to choose some electives. He chose welding. I'll be honest here. I wasn't sure how well he would be accepted in the ag department. He wasn't an ag kid, this was his first class, and he was a senior. He wasn't going into an ag field. I was very wrong. Dan took him in as his own. He ordered material specifically so Harbor could pursue a project. Dan encouraged him and stopped by frequently to brag on him. There is no better way to win over a mama. The skills he taught Harbor will serve him well in engineering and they already have in life. And third, and most importantly, Lindsay was my library aide her senior year. We spent a ton of time together. Even at the time, I was so moved by how she described how Dan and her mom found each other and how he adopted her and her sister.  Honestly, so many times when we were talking she talked of Dan and what a great dad he was. I can not imagine a more honest and honorable statement on your life than if your children speak so kindly, complimentary, and lovingly about you. You were a good man Dan Shell. You will be dearly missed and I will lift your family up in prayer often.