WESTBROOK – It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Daniel Krell. Dan passed away peacefully at home, Sept. 22, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Dan is deeply missed by his wife, Sue Krell; his sons Noah Krell (Lia Wilson) and Micah Krell (Christina Mastriano); his grandson, Ara, bonus granddaughters Cici and Cammy; his brothers Fred Krell (Judy Krell) and Ben Krell (Toni Edelman); his aunt, Lois Karp; and a loving community of extended family members; devoted friends and patients.

Dan’s greatest joy in life was his family. He was a loving and dedicated husband and dad, always present and always ready for an adventure. His sons Noah and Micah’s births were monumental moments in Dan’s life.

As a husband, father and friend, Dan was a kind, thoughtful, and consummate helper, instinctively attuned to the needs and sufferings of others. Dan and his life partner, Sue, shared unconditional love and concern for the many people in their lives. Over the decades, they welcomed innumerable people seeking solace and solutions for their troubles into their home. Dan’s innate empathy and patience served as the basis of his gentle and learned approach to healthcare.

Dan was the youngest of three boys, born on Aug. 26, 1944, to Francis and Gustav Krell. He grew up in Park Ridge, N.J., and attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Dan spent two years in the Peace Corps, assigned to a tuberculosis control program in Malawi, Africa. There, he worked in small villages and a rural hospital, becoming fluent in the local language, Nyanja. The Peace Corps was a transformative experience for Dan, who continued to speak Nyanja in his sleep long after his return to the U.S. Dan brought Sue, Noah and Micah to Malawi in 2002, for an unforgettable family adventure.

At the age of 28, Dan gave into his obsession with medicine and entered the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. After completing training at Harrisburg Hospital’s Family Practice Residency program, Dan sought a rural healthcare setting, which led him to the Sacopee Valley Health Center in Kezar Falls.

Dan Krell was a devoted doctor, passionate about his patients and the clinic’s mission. Trained in clinical hypnosis, he enjoyed applying that skill in his practice. Except for a brief stint with his dear friend and colleague, Dr. Francis Bellino, at Steep Falls Family Practice, Dan worked at the Health Center until retirement. In later years, Dan worked as a medical consultant for Unum researching complicated medical cases and presenting the facts as he saw them. Dan was a truth seeker in medicine and in life.

Preferring Dan Krell to Dr. Krell and carrying a red L.L.Bean backpack rather than a traditional medical bag, Dan had an insatiable curiosity and ‘knew a little about a lot.’ He attributed this wellspring of general knowledge to his ‘lint trap mind.’ Dan was a voracious reader and an expansive thinker whose favorite author was Oliver Sacks. He was known for thinking “outside the box” and throwing a multitude of ideas out to see what was viable. Dan’s entire community benefited from this skill, though it often tested Sue’s patience when applied to her personal problems.

Dan had a sharp wit with a quick and dry sense of humor. He was a self-proclaimed curmudgeon with bright twinkling eyes and often talked about publishing a blog by a fictitious Dr. Rants-A-Lot.

Dan adored bicycling, swimming, camping, hiking, and working outside in the fields and woods. He waged an endless battle against invasive species, launching campaigns against Asiatic Bittersweet and sharing his thesis on safe Poison Ivy removal. He was a gifted black-and-white photographer who also documented his family’s life moments in color film.

Dan’s family extends their deepest gratitude to the dedicated and skilled healthcare professionals who fought valiantly to save Dan’s life. Our heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Mathew Dugan and his team at the New England Cancer Center and Dr. Lisa Ruttstein and her team at CMMC Surgical Oncology. Lastly, our deepest appreciation to the dedicated staff from Southern Maine Hospice, who compassionately guided Dan through his final journey and provided continuous 24-hour medical care and emotional support.

A celebration of Dan’s life will be held in the summer.

The family asks that anyone wishing to contribute to Dan’s memory, consider donating to:

Malawi Children’s Village

https://malawichildrensvillage.org/,

Hospice of Southern Maine, https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/

or a favorite charity