NEFA DISCussion

Most of you didn't know Dann Schultz, but he was kin. "Stranded in Iowa" as he put it, he was a long-time, avid disc golfer, TD and promoter in the Corn Belt. I knew him primarily from our shared passion for disc collecting. On eBay he was FrisbeeMaster.

Two years ago, in his late forties, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Since then, his devoted wife, Sylvia, has kept me apprised of his heroic struggle with his self-imposed disease. I'd like to share some excerpts from her message I received Sunday.

"Dann passed away today at the Hospice House at 2:00pm "ish". He struggled to breathe in a way that broke my heart with every breath. IF YOU SMOKE, QUIT NOW. You don't want to struggle at the end like he did. It was extremely painful for me to watch. Every breath in was a gasp and the outbreath (is that a word?) was a gurgle.

Dann lived life to the fullest and had a zest and passion for the things and people he loved. He was a brave and wonderful man, even to the end he fought like hell to stay with us. He fought so hard that his blood pressure was down to 40 over ?, they couldn't even get a bottom number of the blood pressure. The nurses at Hospice (who had worked their for 25+ years said they had never seen anyone's body deplete as much as Dann's had while the person still fought so hard. He was my hero, my soulmate, my best friend.

I love you all and appreciate your support over the two years. Thanks so much. God Bless and GO HUG YOUR SPOUSE!"

Here are a couple of Dann's "fun facts"...

Guinness Book World Record of 833 holes played in a 24 hour period.

Co-founded the first sanctioned disc golf league.

My condolences. May all his shots in heaven be aces.


And wow !!! 833 holes in a 24 hour period !!!!

That's insane, but impressive.

Phil,

Thanks for the amazing facts about Dann.

He surely will be missed.

Phil, very sorry to hear this. He had bid on a couple of tins I had on e-bay.

sorry to hear about your loss, sounds like an awsome guy, and an awesome advocate of the sport.

Frisbee Master bid on many a historical frisbie/frisbee item, and was obviously an enthusiastic supporter of our pastime. It is hard to hear of people who love a sport so young--succumb.

Oh, if only, you think retrospectively of those who have journeyed that route only to be stubbed out by the terrible consequences of nicotine addiction.

Hopefully he's at play on the other side, and those playing on this side
pay heed to the price he paid. If so, we'll all play better for it.

Once upon a time I was among the ranks of the Young & Stupid. I inhaled unfiltered Camels for 11 years.

Then one day I finally heard my one-year-old daughter communicating to me how she felt about my deadly habit the only way she could...with her constant soft cough. I quit cold turkey. That was 30 years ago this past February 14.

Best Valentine a dad ever got!

Way to go Phil!! April 15 will be 10 years for me.

I recently started Disc Golf... And also recently quit smoking also...

That just plain out right reinforces the reasons why I quit...

My condolences for your loss

razorback69 wrote:Way to go Phil!! April 15 will be 10 years for me.

Except for that cig a saw in your hand last Sunday???

This April is 1 year for me. I've quit for periods between a month, and a year and a half ,..probably 10 times since I started smoking around age 20. I hope this time I have it licked for good. Everyday is still a battle and I anticipate it being so the rest of my life!!

Gary/Mass wrote:Everyday is still a battle and I anticipate it being so the rest of my life!!

Everybody's different, of course, but it DOES get easier for most the longer you're clean. It helps greatly not to have friends that smoke or hang around smoky joints. (Are there any still around? I was once a week into giving up when I went to a pool tournament...BAD idea back then!)

Valentine's Day is a great time to quit: Good for your loved ones, good for your pocketbook, and good for your health...especially your HEART!

Phil wrote:Here are a couple of Dann's "fun facts"...

Guinness Book World Record of 833 holes played in a 24 hour period.

Co-founded the first sanctioned disc golf league.

That's 34.71 holes per hour!

11%er wrote:That's 34.71 holes per hour!

Flat out, them Iowa courses can't be as challenging as those here in NEFAland!

Nicotene free for 2 years. The smell of cigs are gross now but my lip still waters when I see someone throw in a lipper.

Sorry for your loss of a friend Phil. Horrible way to go.

6 years strong
If you haven't quit...do it.
Sorry for the loss Phil

How old was he?

Dann was only 50 years young when he died last year.

I appreciate your condolences and have passed them on to his (I'm sure still grieving) widow, Sylvia. My "relationship" with Dann was as a fellow disc collector in the greater Frisbee Family...which includes all of you! (Even a few black sheep...you know who you are!:wink: )

The important message, which I originally passed on at Sylvia's behest, is about how evil the smoking addiction really is. Usually a real life story hits home with greater impact. Who wants to die at 50?!

My old man died from the same thing, lung cancer from smoking, when he was only 46 years old. Unreal. That will be 25 years ago come April. Wow.