Daniel M. Scott

I enjoyed talking with Dan at the 40th reunion. He was treated cruely by many... what a shame. Unfortunately this type of behavior is common with students and continues for some into adulthood. In this day of social media this cruelty can be even worse.

It is a testiment to Dan that he perservered through the razzing. I pray that he is in heaven with our Lord and Savior.... where there are no more tears, no more illness, just the blessing of being in the presence of God.

I am shocked by all these comments. I never knew this abuse was happening to Dan. He was my next door neighbor in Crystal Lake Estates. We had a good friendship. He never mentioned being mistreated by classmates to me. I am saddened by all this and would have gone after the bullies. I hate bullying with a passion.  Thankfully, Dan was above that kind of thing. 

When I heard of Dan's passing, I chose to message his friend Bill with my sympathies.  I told Bill that I always felt bad how some treated Dan unfairly.  I thank Dennis and Claire for expressing what I (and many others) felt and was unsure of saying or not.  Dan attended Class Reunions; who would think Dan would want to attend when he entured so much in high school. Dan attended with the BIGGEST smile, was his friendly usual self, fun, and appeared very happy!  He certainly was brave.  That is the Dan I choose to remember.  

Dan Scott is the name he left high school with, but most of us probably remember more by the name he entered it with, Dan Koehn. Sadly, still even more of us probably most remember the crude two-word nickname he was burdened with.

The abuse Dan took in our high school, abuse he handled with calmness and class, was astounding. Merely his entering the cafeteria would provoke a din of catcalls of that unwanted nickname. I never saw any adult try to stop it. And, of course, none of us younger people stood up against it. The harassment, focusing on one physical flaw, was every student’s nightmare. But it was Dan’s reality. Can you imagine the sheer bravery that it must have taken him each day to go to school, knowing the heaps of abuse that would rain on him?

Dan’s facial blemishes went away with time. But what about those bullies who tried to make him miserable? As they got older, did they ever change? Did they ever feel guilty for what they did? Did any ever write Dan to apologize? Or did those Mean Boys stay the same, and even now mock and fear anyone who looks or act different?

I, too, hope Dan rests in peace, the peace he was never given at our high school.

Posted on: Feb 22, 2015 at 3:34 AM