Daniel W. Maus Jr., also affectionately known as Dan, Danny and Sonny, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on the early moonlit morning of November 30th at Chestelm Health and Rehabilitation Center in Moodus, from complications following a stroke in 2008.
Dan was born on September 11, 1929 in Middletown to the late Dan Maus, Sr. and Margaret Gorman Maus and resided in Moodus all his life.
He was a 1947 graduate of Nathan Hale-Ray High School and three-sport athlete, and it was here that he developed his reputation as a fierce competitor.
After graduation, Dan joined the town team, The Moodus Noises, in the Middlesex County Baseball League where he played until the team disbanded in the 1960’s.
Not yet ready to retire, he joined the Deep River team where he played for several years and finished his career in Willimantic as a teammate of rising ECSC star, Bill Hollowaty.
On Labor Day of 1951 Dan married his sweetheart, Margaret Golet, also of Moodus, and they spent the next 61 years together.
Margaret survives him as do their children, son Michael and his wife Ellen of Hadlyme; daughter Dana of Moodus; sister, Jean Gagnon of Moodus; grandchildren, Katherine Tully and her husband Kevin of Winchester, MA.; Michael Maus Jr. and Brandon Maus of Hadlyme; great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Jackson Tully and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Dan Maus, Sr. and Margaret Gorman Maus and grandchildren, Bethany and Daniel Maus.
Dan joined the family business started by his father and grandfather, originally as a cotton and milk-hauling company and transitioned it into the fuel oil, plumbing and heating business it is today, Maus & Son Oil Company.
It was here that his sense of civic duty and service to others blossomed, and he worked up to the time of his illness.
Dan joined the Connecticut Army National Guard and in 1951 his unit, the 238th AAA Artillery Battalion was activated and sent to Japan to provide anti-aircraft defense during the Korean conflict.
Returning to Moodus after this period, Dan continued his public service with the East Haddam Volunteer Fire Dept. as a 50-year member and the East Haddam Ambulance Association as a founder and 30-year member.
It was as an EMT that his became a household name to many residents as he “led the team in runs” and was present for and helped his friends and neighbors through births, deaths and everything in between.
Dan was a communicant of St. Bridget's of Kildare Church and also volunteered his time as a coach and umpire in the East Haddam Little League system, the Boy Scouts of America and as a volunteer and instructor for the American Red Cross in CPR.
A fixture at the Memorial Day parade for many years, Dan served as a longtime member of the firing squad. He was also a 20-gallon lifetime Red Cross blood donor.
Never one to seek the limelight or personal recognition, Dan was, however proud of and grateful for the numerous awards he received through the years, such as induction into the Hale-Ray Sports Hall of Fame, the East Haddam Junior Women’s Club Community Service Award, East Haddam Volunteer of the Month Award, East Haddam Community Lions’ Humanitarian of the Year Award and numerous East Haddam Ambulance Association awards.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the caring and compassionate staff at Chestelm, as well as to Dan’s doctors and staff at the facilities where he received care during his illness.
They also wish to thank Father Greg Galvin of St. Bridget's for his guidance, comfort and support during this difficult period.
Friends may call on Wednesday, December 5, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown.
The funeral liturgy will be held Thursday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bridget's of Kildare Church, 75 Moodus-Leesville Road in Moodus.
Burial will be in St. Bridget's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the East Haddam Food Bank, the East Haddam Fuel Bank or the American Stroke Foundation.
In Dan’s memory, please perform one good deed or act of kindness each day to make this world a little better place.
