Danny Koch, One of the Greats

Freshman year of college in the first month or so I met a girl named Tricia Reilly who happened to be born on the same day as I was. We became fast friends, joining the same sorority and after college both moving to Washington DC. Tricia had spent a semester in DC during her junior year and while she was there she met one of the truly greatest men on earth, Danny Koch.

Danny spent seven years trying to convince Tricia to marry him. I can remember in those early years of their dating saying to her, “Tricia, there is no better human on earth than Danny. What are you waiting for?” She eventually said yes and they married in a beautiful ceremony at the Greenbrier on Halloween. It was the wedding of the decade.

Danny was one of the best listeners I ever knew. He also was a great laugher so put those two things together and that meant I could spend hours with him. Danny was always supportive of whatever crazy thing I was doing in my ten years in Washington. Going to Danny and Tricia’s house was like a moment in sanity for me during those years. Tricia was one of my bride’s maid in our wedding and Danny was always there to throw a good party or hold a bag or just listen.

Tricia and Danny went on to have four wonderful children, Reilly, K.C., Max and Jenna. In the strange way life happens, Jenna was born just 18 hours apart from Carter, so mother’s born on the same day had daughters born just hours apart.

Danny died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday after a brave two and a half year fight. He had so much to live for and made it much longer than most people diagnosed with stage IV cancer. I am certain that God realized he needed to let everyone who ever met Danny have more time with him, yet it still was not enough.

I was in huge denial that this day would come. I feel truly blessed to have known him and shared so much time over so many years with him. He was always kind, truly humble and ever supportive. The world lost one of the greats and I am very sad.