By COLlive reporter
Danny Green, a member of the Chabad community in San Diego, California, who was known as “Dan The Man”, passed away on Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5778.
He was 46.
The oldest son of Alan and Elisheva Green, Dan was born with Partial Trisomy 18, a rare chromosomal disorder (similar to Down Syndrome). At the time, doctors knew of only seven other documented cases.
Doctors told Mrs. Green to leave him in the hospital as her son would not live long, and certainly would not be able to have any kind of meaningful life.
The doctors couldn’t have been more wrong.
Dan was raised and treated as a typical member of the family. He put on tefillin each morning and davened with a minyan three times a day and enjoyed swimming, biking, hiking, playing with children, and going on roller coasters.
Over the years, he worked at places like Sea World and a Gap store. His favorite job was working with children as a kindergarten aide at a local public school.
As a valued part of the Jewish community, Dan was known for his big smile, and bigger heart, friends said. He always had something nice to say. Dan will be fondly remembered for his strong bear hugs, bone-crushing handshakes and ‘gentle’ pats on the back.
Fueled by his parents’ love, Dan lived a very fulfilling and giving life. Because of Dan, his mother started Friendship Circle of San Diego and serves as its Executive Director. The two of them have helped give friendship and support to hundreds of families of special needs children and adults.
Dan is survived by his parents Alan and Elisheva, siblings Orin Green (La Jolla, CA), Ari Green (Teaneck, NJ), Yehuda Green (Kingston, PA), Sara Ives (Brussels, Belgium), Shira Abramson (Crown Heights), and Esther Zeidman (Morristown, NJ), a grandmother, aunts and uncles, 30 nieces and nephews, and thousands of good deeds and loving memories for all those who knew him.
In the weeks in which Dan was in the ICU, many Yidden took on hachlatos toivos in his merit. The family encourages more mitzvah pledges in his memory: http://mitzvahpledge.org/project/daniel-aharon-ben-elisheva. Friendship Circle of San Diego has set up a memorial fund in his honor at https://friendshipcirclesd.com/donation
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
His name is Daniel Aharon Haleivi ben Avraham Yosef Haleivi
I didn’t know Danny but what a beautiful tribute, thank you for sharing. May the family be comforted.
My tears join with yours for this pure neshama who was loved by everyone and was an inspiration to all. he will indeed be a meeylitz yosher for klal Yisrael to bring Moshiach now.
It was an honor being friends with the Green family. I had a special bond with Danny. We would tell each other Mazel Tov when we had family simchas to share. May the holy neshama of Daniel Aharon ben Avraham Yosef HaLevi v’Elisheva rest in the highest rungs of Shamayim and be meilitz yosher for his family and friends.
I remember him when he would come 2 visit his bros @ YOEC Los Angeles, really great very nice young man, very sad 2 hear this news, may the family only have lots of Simchas Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Bsoch Shar Aveilei Tzion Vyrushalayim
… and his parents in January, when I was out there for a mathematicians convention. Great guy. BDE, and I thank his parents again for their hospitality.
bsd
Hamakom yanachaim betoch shar aveili betzion ubyerushliam
This is his full name so mitzvos can be done in his memory
Moshiach now
Greens are such special people. A family known only for being very caring and kind.
BS”D I second comments 1 & 2, do not know them but observed them numerous times in the Mikvah on their visits to CH and the Fathers utter devotion to his son was amazing. The parents should have much Chasidishe Nachas from the family all in Good Health b’Gashmius v’ Ruchnius
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful neshama–and to his family, as well. May he be a gutte bette for klal Yisroel.
Please State his and his father”s Hebrew name, so one could do good deeds in his memory.
May he bang down the gates of golus for us and may he be reunited in a guf with his family and all of Am Yisroel
My family were privileged to grow up alongside Dan and his family. He was the first “special needs” person my family encountered. Dan was always a normal and accepted part of life in our community, everyone, from youngest to oldest, embraced him as an integral part of our community, without question. His parents were devoted to him, making sure he had all the services he needed, and giving him as much independence as he was capable of. We all learned a tremendous amount from the Green family and loved and will deeply miss having Dan around. BDE. Thank you Hashem… Read more »
the best soul on this world. No other ways to say it. The world lost the best one!
He and his parents are an inspiration!
Danny was such a nice fun guy he will be missed. I just want to say how incredible his parents are they are the most amazing people in the world they are the nicest people in the world. Anyone who knows them will say the same. We love you Green family stay strong
He should be a Gutte Betta for us all, משיח כאו!
His neshama should have an aliya and his memory should be for a blessing. moshiach now!
beautiful article.