From Bob, Lin and Sean Korns
We think of Dan as “Bigger than Life”, a Swash Buckling Hero” from
an Errol Flynn movie from the 40’s. We could hear Dan now saying, “Hey Matey, What’s happening down there?”- Almost like a character from a new Disney movie such as “Pirates of the Caribbean”. But Dan was always the “good guy”.
Back in 1974-‘75 time frame Dan and Nancy arrived in a Milk Truck at our small home in Sunnyvale, Ca. Over the next few days we shared many memories. We were driving back from Santa Cruz late one night. We were starving and really hungry and ended up stopping at Round Table Pizza Parlor at 10:00PM ready to eat anything-even the cardboard box the pizza came in! After much discussion we ordered an “extra large” pizza with everything on it. We told the guy behind the counter that Dan & Nancy were newlyweds on their way to Alaska in a converted milk truck. Being Santa Cruz,-that was all they needed to hear! After a long 30 minute wait, the pizza was ready! This extra large pizza was like nothing we have seen before or since! It would have made the Guinness Book of Records as the heaviest Pizza made this side of The Milky Way! No kidding. It was at least 6 inches high in the center with a ton of veggies and salami on top. Dan’s eyes lit up.-Actually, we did a little “lighting up” of our own over an hour before. Now you can understand why we were sooo HUNGRY!! We gave a large tip for that 20 pound pizza. Ha! It was a Great Time indeed!
The next day we drove to Gilroy, about 30 miles south of our home. Dan and Nancy wanted to do some horseback riding. Having never been on a horse before, Bob voted to stay home and sort out the garage, but as usual got out voted-and boy was he glad he did! Lin’s co-worker, Robin, was staying on a ranch for the summer that was 400 acres in size. They had 30 to 40 horses so it looked like a Dan- type opportunity. We checked out the horses, and Lin asked for the mellowest one. David, Robin’s husband, pointed out one of the horses that was a mean son of a gun! He had never been ridden and had actually tossed off the owner’s top hand. Dan came to the rescue. It was music to his ears. He immediately said, “That horse is for me!” David warned Dan, but you know Dan, once he makes up his mind nothing can stop him. Dan asked for a pail of oats. The horse was by himself about 100 feet away on the other side of the corral. Dan walked out towards the horse and left the bucket in the middle of the field. He turned around and slowly walked away from the horse towards us, slowly turning around twice to see what the Wild Stallion was up to. After a few minutes the horse went to the bucket, and by God, he ate the whole thing! Now Dan, being the wise man he is, slowly walked up to the horse with a bridal and horse blanket under his arms. He talked in a very calm low voice to the horse, put his hand on his back and gently put the horse blanket on him. Next he attached the bridal. In one motion, Dan got up on the horse, and they were one! He took off this way, and that, but within one minute we knew who was “top dog” so to speak and it wasn’t the horse. Dan rode him around the perimeter of the large corral three times. As he approached us, David was amazed. No one else was able to do what Dan had done in a
total elapsed time of 5 minutes. Now we see why Nancy married Dan. She had no chance. Dan won her over a long time ago!!
Several members of the family experienced a birthday celebration with us when they visited us in the 70’s whether it was their Birthday or not! Ha! We use to have this place called Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor in Sunnyvale. Little did Dan know that we had called in advance to tell them this hombre, by the name of Daniel Dryden, was having a birthday. We told Nancy that we were going out for an ice cream for dessert. Once we arrived and the doors closed it was like being in another world. You know, “The Twilight Zone”. As Dan sat down in a booth with us, the lights dimmed and flickered. Fire engine sirens went off, and over the LOUD speaker we heard. “This is Dan Dryden’s one and only 32nd Birthday!” They put this weird hat, - sort of like a dunce cap, on Dan and then had him stand up on a stool. Pretty COOL don’t you think? Then these 6 accomplices came out with an ice cream cake with candles burning on it. They then began to sing “Happy Birthday to Dear Old Dan!” His face became bright red like we had never seen before. We were lucky to have survived that night!!
We will remember Dan always having a smile on his face, a firm handshake, a twinkle in his eye and a hearty laugh! His voice and laugh were out of a western movie. We can still imagine hearing him say, “Gettie up little doggie” to his horse. Dan certainly got the most out of life. He made daily living an adventure-whether riding that wild horse, eating that wild pizza or crazy birthday ice cream cake, or sailing a boat on the open seas!
We remember when Dan and Nancy were living in the U.K. Nancy told us about this wooden sail boat called the “Janetta”. A lot of hard work went into fixing her up for her maiden voyage out on the English Channel. Nancy had polished the brass, sanded and sealed the decks and even made stain glass windows for her. We think those windows ended up at Mom’s house in Glenmont for several years on the entry porch. So, as Dan was letting the wind catch the sails out on the Channel, he noticed water coming into the boat. Within seconds a helicopter was filming the emergency from the air. They even made it to the 6:00 News. Doesn’t this sound like a “Huckleberry Fin” adventure? Dan would have it no other way!!!
Dan always liked a good joke. He also liked to get into a discussion about politics- a Korns/Dryden habit that continues to this day. Of course- the discussion and emotions were always enhanced by a little wine, - then a little more, etc., etc. After all, you have to wet the vocal cords with something!
So now as we reflect back on Dan, we think of a character out of Daniel Boone,- an old black and white movie perhaps from the 50’s, or even a character from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. You can just hear him saying: “Come on Mateys, we have a long voyage to make today. Let us hoist up the sails and push off Lads”. “Time is a wasting! Let us get the most out of this adventure called life!”
God bless you Dan wherever you are! -Every time we have a glass of wine, we should make a toast to you, and count ourselves lucky for having passed each other on this short trip on earth this time around. “Aye, aye Matey!”
Thank you Dan for all the great memories and good laughs.
We Love and Miss You!
