Remembering A Fallen Son

Stirling Danskin thought his son “slept too much.” Judging from his workman-like clothes, he didn’t share his son’s taste in fashion. And don’t even mention the music.

“I hated his music,” Stirling Danskin said about his son, also Stirling Danskin.

He thought his son spent too much time working with DRK Productions, a local electronic music company, instead of focusing on his schoolwork at the University of New Haven. He told a story of where his son needed to make some money, so he shoveled a walk for $50.

“He never shoveled a driveway for me in my life,” the elder Stirling Danskin said, to some break-up-the-sadness laughter.

And yet he will never have a day for the rest of his life that he won't think about and miss his son. And the last place he wanted to be was in a field in Miner Farm, with more than 100 people surrounding him, talking about the passing of his son at age 20.

“He was a wonderful son, something isn’t right,” Stirling Danskin said. “I am going to miss him really, really bad… I don’t want to be here.”

Danskin’s son, Stirling Danskin, near the campus of the University of New Haven, where he was a student studying music and sound recording. He was an artist and an actor who loved poetry and helped manage safe and community-centered raves around the community, according to his obituary. And he had a dead-on Don Macrino impression, according to Peter Schlink.

On Sunday, despite being put together less than 24 hours earlier, more than 100 people came to Miner Farm on Clark Lane for a glow stick vigil to remember their fallen friend. There were tears, hugs and even some laughs, as they remembered the person they loved.

At one point, Ann Schenk, who organized the event, told the crowd to shout out words that best-described Danskin. The results painted a picture of a good, artistic boy who loved people and loved performing.

“Powerful,” one person shouted. “A poet,” another said.

“Spontaneous.” “One of the most polite kids I know.” “Inspiring.” “Warm.” “Passionate.” “Supportive.” “Curious.”

Danskin was heavily involved in WATERFORDrama when he was in high school. Samantha Sterenchock, another recent Waterford High School graduate who was also heavily involved in WATERFORDrama,

“It wasn’t that long ago we had to say goodbye to another one of our friends,” Schlink said. “Stay close, stick together.”