Daniel (Dan) Scott Krauss passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family at Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut on October 28, 2024, following a long battle with complications from congestive heart failure.

Born on October 2, 1975, to Albert and Joyce (Jodi) Krauss, Dan grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York. He graduated from Yorktown High School in 1993 and continued his education at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., where he majored in International Relations and Economics. While at UD, Dan worked as a “Blue Hen Host” and it was during a break at the Visitor’s Center on an afternoon in October 1995, when he met Betsy, who would later become his wife.

The summer before graduation, Dan interned at The White House for President Bill Clinton. He graduated from UD in May of 1997 and began a career in banking. Dan and Betsy moved to Connecticut in 1999 and after a few jobs and apartments, bought their home in Sandy Hook. Dan became a branch manager for People’s United Bank (currently M&T Bank) and spent time at branches in Bethel, Newtown and Monroe.

In 2005, Dan achieved two dreams, earning his pilot’s license and becoming a father.

In 2017, Dan received the gift of life through a heart transplant. Not a day has gone by since then when he was not grateful to the family of his donor for making the decision that ultimately allowed him the chance to watch Rachel grow up into the amazing young adult she is today.

After his transplant, Dan spent his time volunteering in the community as a speaker for Donate Life Connecticut, a member and eventual chair of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission, a volunteer for The Resiliency Center of Newtown, and as a part of the board of Newtown High School Band Parents Corporation. He enjoyed cooking, traveling, building huge Lego projects and spending time with his family and friends. He loved teaching Rachel to ski and some of his best post-transplant times were on the ski slope with his daughter.

Dan is survived by his wife of 26 years, Betsy (Elizabeth); his daughter, Rachel Marissa; his parents, Albert and Jodi (Joyce) of Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; his brother, Gregory (Allison) of Warren, N.J.; nephews Benjamin and Jacob; and aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom will miss him tremendously.

He was predeceased by his son, Andrew Patrick.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 1, at Newtown Village Cemetery.

The family will sit shiva in Sandy Hook and in Yorktown Heights at the following dates and times: Friday in Sandy Hook from 3-5 pm; Sunday in Sandy Hook from 1-8 pm; Monday in Yorktown Heights from 3-8 pm; and Tuesday in Sandy Hook from 4-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Dan’s family would request that you consider a donation in his name to Donate Life Connecticut through their website at donatelifect.org or by mail to Donate Life Connecticut, PO Box 304, Andover CT 06232. Dan’s family would also ask that if you are not currently an organ donor, you consider becoming one via registration through the Donate Life website or your state Department of Motor Vehicles.