Gone too soon: In Memory of Danny Boyle

[Robin Garr]

In Memory of Danny Boyle

<table border="0" align="right" width="310"><tr><td><img src="http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/danboyle.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr></table>The <i>Food & Dining</i> and LouisvilleHotBytes family has suffered a devastating loss this week with the sudden death of co-worker and friend Danny Boyle, a kind and gentle man who was taken from us way too soon. To share our bad news with you all, here's a brief memorial from Danny's old and dear friend, John C. White, the publisher of <i>Food & Dining</i>:

<b>For Danny:</b>

"It is with the greatest of sorrow that I bring this news to the forum. Thursday was, and will remain, one of the saddest days of my life. Daniel F. Boyle, my best friend for as long as I can remember and my right-hand-man for <i>Food & Dining</i> Magazine, died suddenly of heart failure Thursday night.

"He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife Sara and two small boys: Jordan, 12, and Matthew, 6.

"I cannot begin to tell you what he has meant to me in my life, but I can tell you that he has touched so many more lives than mine.

"Most every restaurant owner and chef, hotel manager and purveyor of our humble magazine knew him in some way. Many counted him as a friend, and most all thought of him as he was, a kind, generous and loving man.

"From the moment the news of his passing was known, sympathies have come pouring in. One such message from a young lady in the restaurant business spoke of how Danny once dropped off homemade soup to her when she was ill, telling her that the soup always made his wife feel better.

"Danny was also very giving and involved in his community. For many years he was a volunteer baseball and basketball coach for Jeffersontown youth sports, touching hundreds of young lives.

"Danny loved his wife, Sara, his boys Matthew and Jordan, his family, friends and his community. And we loved him back."

Funeral services and visitation will be held at Owen Funeral Home (Jeffersontown), 9318 Taylorsville Road.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2007.

Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, followed by a private burial.

Danny's passing was sudden and devastating. He and his wife and children were no way prepared for such a tragic event. We urge all his friends and associates to strongly consider, in lieu of flowers, making memorial gifts in his memory, on his family's behalf, to the <b>Daniel Boyle Memorial Fund</b>, c/o any Stock Yards Bank.

I intend to organize a fund-raiser to benefit his wife and boys. If anyone would like to help, please contact Robin Garr or myself. My Email is publisher@foodanddingmagazine.com
<i>--John C. White</i>

I can only echo John's heartfelt comments about Danny, a good friend and a wonderful human being; and about the serious need in which his family now finds itself. The Louisville restaurant community and the many local diners who support it have shown themselves over and over again to be generous about stepping up whenever there is a need. We urge you to join us in any efforts we can muster to assist this family whose husband and father were taken from them so sadly and so tragically. Again, please contact John at the address above or me at robin@foodandiningmagazine.com and we'll gratefully get you involved.
<i>--Robin Garr</i>

Not only was Dan a great friend, but he was caring and passionate individual when it came to Louisville's reataurant scene. We spent many good times talking about Louisville's restaurant scene and how diverse and unique it was.

He was a great family man because his wife and boys were constantly in our conversations. The shock of his loss still has not sunk in. Joyce and I will miss you a lot and your visits to our office.

My deepest sympathy to his family.

David & Joyce Lange

I concidered Dan to be a true friend and confidant and this is probably the worst thing I have ever heard on this forum. I just talked to him last week for an hour and he was honestly concerned about MY health and well being. SHIT!! I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to the family and all who knew him.....

My deepest condolences to Dan's family. He was a very kind and jovial soul who always went out of his way to make all those around him comfortable and happy. He will be greatly missed. He was a lovely man I feel lucky to have known.

The world has lost a very special person. I had only e-mail interactions with him, but he came across as a warm, caring person. He was very welcoming to all who had an interest in the Louisville restaurant scene. Our thoughts and prayers to his family.

I did not know Danny personally but know many people in the industry who had much respect and admiration for him. What a tragic loss.

This is a sudden and tremendous loss. Dan was always careful about his presence on this forum due to his position at Food & Dining. As a result, he and I kept up an active behind the scenes email correspondence. The guy was a gem; funny, smart, and very caring. This has really caught me off guard. My deepest sympathies to his family.

He is and was one of the greatest guys in the restaurant business. He understood your particular place in the industry, Dan you will be missed. I will help & pray for your wife and children.

My last conversation with Dan was about 10 days ago and it became all about family. My deepest condolences to his family and those close to him.

This is indeed a very sad day in the restaurant industry. I simply can't believe what I'm seeing. I spoke to Dan just weeks ago about my leaving the Louisville area to move to Cinci & he was so upbeat and full of life, this is a hard pill to swallow. Dan is & will always be a great man & I will miss him dearly. My thoughts & prayers go out to his wife & children.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dan...I particularly enjoyed my forum correspondence with Dan because of his experiences on the island of Oahu...He brought me back to some good memories of the Hawaiian Islands...The man had the Aloha Spirit and will be truly missed around here...

Wow, I'm in shock. Dan was a wonderful man, with a great ideas and a beautiful spirit. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children. All of us at Artemisia will miss him greatly.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of a grand cheerleader for the restaurant owners in this city. I will miss our conversations and the stories we shared. My sincere sympathy to his family and his friends who will miss his kindness, his spirit and his professionalism.

Oh, brother.
This is a total shock. I'm a new guy around Food and Dining and Danny was gold. He liked having a good time, always asked about how you or your family was doing, seemed to have a golden talent for taking five minutes off to just talk in the midst of everything that was business.
I am sorrowful and staggered. Just having spoken with him a few weeks back about a great trip we had to Boston, when everything was about the top notes, good memories and fun times, this knocks me over.
Rest In Peace, brother. You've left us here without you much too soon.

Sad! Sad! Both seviches will help in anyway possible.