MMC Memorial Site


Daniel (Hal) Crisman

Family Tribute:

Daniel Hal Crisman (Danny)

Age 25

Hometown: South Montrose, Pennsylvania

Danny was a wonderful son. Having Danny for a son and friend has been the greatest gift life has given me. A son is a maker of memories, a special source of pride. A son is love.

Danny always had a contagious smile, laughing eyes, and his soft-spokenness put everyone at ease. Danny had a very special way of touching the soul of everyone he met.

Danny had many interests and mastered them all: art, guitar, poetry, photography, writing, landscaping, and even fixing automobiles. He was also an avid reader and had a geat love for the outdoors. Danny’s grasping of knowledge and eagerness to learn always made him a winner.

We will all miss the smile that could melt your heart.

Thank you for being the best son ever.

Love,

Mom

Daniel H. Crisman: In Love With the Big City

He came from the small town of South Montrose, Pa., but he was enchanted by the inexhaustible mysteries and wonders of New York. Daniel Crisman soaked in everything about the city.

Mr. Crisman, 25, felt he was on a roll. He had labored as a carpenter in New Jersey, but yearned for something more certain and less seasonal. He found a job as a temp at Marsh & McLennan. On Sept. 1, after a year of tentative status, he was made a permanent employee as a training coordinator.

When he learned the good news, he was ecstatic, flashing one of his trademark smiles. "He really felt like he had made it," said his girlfriend, Danielle Zazula. "He felt he had achieved a level of success in his life."

Art was another side of him. He met Ms. Zazula at a poetry workshop where both of them read some of their work. They shared so many interests, including admiration for Charles Bukowski. For two years, they lived together in Chelsea.

More recently, Mr. Crisman had set aside poetry and embraced photography, taking pictures of flowers and leaves. He also created collages, mixing his photographs with images he cut out of magazines and wrappers and bottle caps he found on the streets of the city that so inspired him.

Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co. Reprinted by permission.
 

  
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I think of you often Dan, I hope that heaven is wonderful place and that you are happy and peaceful.
Gabriele, 9/11/2007 4:43:40 PM
Dan,

Here we are almost 6 years later and I can still remember what I was doing when I found out that you were in the WTC that day. I recognized the your name on the missing poster but not the face because the long hair was gone. I immediately went home and looked through my year book and sure enough it was you. I can still remember sitting in Ms. Perez's history class my junior year with you. I can remember seeing you around school and you were smiling. You will always be missed and definately never forgotten. Rest in Peace!!
Katie Goddard, 9/9/2007 6:28:11 PM
Good morning, Danny, it's been five years. How could that be, it seems only yesterday that we were faxing and calling hospitals, arranging transportation into the City, awed by the incredible stillness in New York those first days after September 11. I think of you sometimes while gardening - you so loved plants and landscaping - and when I put something away in those cube storage units that you put together for me in Bernardsville. At Neely's wedding last year - you would have been there for her and feel that you were, in spirit along with her father. Perhaps nothing that you could have done on earth compares to that which you do in another realm, and I will always be grateful that I knew you, that I tried to help your mother, and that there will be a time when we all have a chance to be together again. Please give Grandma Peg a hug for me and Danny, you will never be forgotten. ~ Linda
Linda Arnold, 9/11/2006 10:09:53 AM
Dear Dan,

I am sorry that the first time I had thought of you in the past couple of years was when my Dad was too upset to tell me that he saw your picture in the window of a diner with the posting that you were missing. I too was working in the World Trade Center that day and felt this tremendous amount of guilt that I made it out and there was a possibility that you did not.

At that point, I also had the realization that so many years had passed without keeping in touch with such a good high school friend and it was now too late.

Dan, you have been on my mind since 2001. Now more then ever, there have been little things that are a constent reminders of the fun we used to have and the great memories. Whether it's a Dee Lite song over ten years old that keeps being played on the radio, finding the Pearl Jam tape your best friend Mikey made, a piece of art created while driving Mrs. Salvini crazy in class or even the graduation picture of you and I. Too many things have turned up lately, Dan I know you are with us. Please just know that I'm sorry I never got to say goodbye. I will miss you always.

Love,

Christy
Christy Bareijsza, 3/5/2006 4:01:15 PM
Dan,

I would like to thank you. Because of the type of son you were, your mother has become one of my closest friends.

In our small wonderful town of Montrose, I knew who your mother was... but never REALLY knew her. After that horrific day, I made it a point to talk with her and extend my condolences. As we began to speak on occassion, a friendship began to grow. Your mom has a determination like I've rarely seen. We began to discuss many of the issues that she was facing and I could tell that these were wearing on her tremendously... but she pushed forward.

The Daniel Crisman Memorial Park began to take shape and I soon began to believe that if there was one person out there who could actually make it happen... it was Debbie.

Although she has done 99% of the work, I have the privilege of helping her perpetuate the park and make sure that it will always remain in our community the way that you will always remain in her heart.

As a result of that tragic day, Sept. 11th, many Americans began to reach out to their neighbors again; while taking a break from our busy lifestyles, we were able to rediscover treasures that were right in front of us the whole time.

Your mom is one of them.

My wife gave birth to our wonderful son on Sept. 12, 2002. The date was extremely symbolic to me. In fact, we missed the ceremonies at the Memorial Park that night because we were at the hospital. Since his birthday, Debbie has been so helpful to us. I'm very proud to say that she was the first person we ever allowed to babysit our son... and has done so many times since.

I think the world of your mom. As I reflect on the last 3 years... it's a bittersweet feeling. My biggest regret... having never met you.

However, knowing you shared many traits of your mother... and knowing all of the work she has done, I can say this:

You will be missed... but ALWAYS remembered.

Thank you.

Bob Brown

Bob Brown, 6/24/2004 10:41:52 PM
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