Sharon — Daniel Gates, beloved husband of Mary Gates and adored father to Andrew, Emily and Michael, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 24. A forty-five year resident of Sharon, Dan was an avid outdoorsman, a lover of nature, and a dedicated therapist, who believed in the enrichment of one’s life and community through service to others.
Dan was born on August 9, 1948, in Bridgeport, the son of the late Harold and Teresa (Golden) Gates. He was a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull, and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Dan began his career in special education after receiving a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University. He went on to found Self Enrichment Experience (S.E.E.), an outdoor education and adventure program. Through S.E.E., Dan was able to share his love of the outdoors with hundreds of students, leading countless backpacking trips along the Appalachian Trail, canoe trips down the Housatonic, and rock climbing excursions at St. John’s Ledges.
In 1988, Dan received a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and began his decades long work as a therapist. Therapy was one of his great passions, and he was deeply devoted to his work. In 1999, Dan and Mary founded the Sharon House Garden Project, converting part of their property to a small organic farm to provide fresh produce to local food banks. Along with his work, the outdoors, and gardening, Dan’s greatest loves were his children, his farmhouse on Carse Brook, and his German Shepherd, Hector. There was no one and nothing that he loved more than his wife of fifty years, Mary, his “dearie,” whom he truly adored.
He is survived by his wife and three children, as well as his beloved younger sister, Judee Flaws, of Trumbull, along with many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends, all of whom he loved greatly. He will be very deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, on Friday May 31 at 12 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon House Garden Project or the Chapel of All Saints West Cornwall, CT. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
