“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” --2 Timothy 4:7-8
Daniel Joseph Hutzler was born on February 7, 1965, to Mary Francis Miller Hutzler and the late Raymond Edward Hutzler, in Parkville, Maryland. On December 10, 2022, surrounded by his devoted wife and sons, Dan transitioned peacefully from this life at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Dan spent the first twelve years of his life in the Baltimore suburb of Parkville before moving with his family to Calvert County, where he completed his education at Northern High School. There, he met Karen Chase and, defying the still uneasy integration of the times, began a relationship that would lead to their thirty-five-year marriage. Dan would say that he saw God’s blessing and approval in the sudden loss of power that happened during their wedding right at the instant of their first kiss as husband and wife. This blissful union also bore two sons, Kyle and Justin, and their first grandchild, Hayden—whom he absolutely doted on.
After completing high school, Dan enlisted with the United States Navy, because he wanted to “buy a stereo”, and serve his country. Dan served principally on the USS Cook in the West Pacific and Persian Gulf for six years. After his honorable discharge from the Navy and a brief role as an information technology specialist on Capitol Hill, Dan would spend most of his career at the Blossom Point Tracking Station employed by various contractors. He would end his career with the Naval Research Lab as a contractor and later federal employee. Dan was honored to earn the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Navy.
Dan was a devoted husband and father. Karen, whom he affectionately called “Bunches” because she was his beautiful bouquet, was the love of his life and they shared a wonderful love story of over 40 years. Each day was filled with love and with ensuring that her needs were met, and she even got most of the items completed on the “Hunny Do List”, albeit at a slightly slower pace. Likewise, Karen was equally devoted to Dan. During his illness, Karen spent every day by Dan’s side, often sleeping in chairs in his hospital rooms, while attending to his every need (and food craving) until the very end.
Dan absolutely adored his sons. He was fully invested in their education, as well as their hobbies and extracurricular interests—to include years of participating in youth sports in Calvert County Parks and Recreation, where he later became a basketball coach. Over the years they would travel as a family around the world, both abroad and across the United States to include Australia, China, Hawaii, Nevis, St. Kitts, Jamaica, and the Grand Canyon to name a few. Their most recent trip was in October to Las Vegas to watch his beloved Raiders play in the new Allegiant Stadium. He also enjoyed family and friend trips to Disney World, Ocean City, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach.
Dan possessed an engineer’s spirit with a passion to build and repair. He loved his cars and was well-known for his perfectionist standards for their maintenance and cleanliness, which he also held for his home and lawn. An extensive music library, the Las Vegas (formerly Oakland) Raiders, NASCAR, and cheering for anyone who drove a Chevrolet, rounded out his passions. Dan was an outstanding host to family and friends serving as the resident grill master, bartender, and photographer. He also had a wonderful sense of humor that endeared him to family and friends.
Dan was loved by so many, including his mother whom he visited frequently and cared for dearly, as well as his close relationship with his only sibling, Renée. He also delighted in spending time with his extended family of in-laws, nieces, and nephews. His close friends are too many to mention, but Dan was surrounded and supported by so much love before and during his illness. Dan appreciated everything that was done to support him, from the neighbors who brought meals or helped cut the lawn when no one was able; the co-workers who called on a regular basis; Dr. Samuel Foster and Dr. Cassius Belfonte, who helped make it easier to receive blood transfusions closer to home and other family and friends who kept him in their thoughts and prayers.
Dan was preceded in death by his father, Raymond, his parents-in-law: Ruby and Alnutt Chase; brothers-in-law David Gordon, Alnutt Chase, Jr., Ricardo Chase, and Darrick Chase and sister-in-law Phyllis Clayton.
He is survived by his loving wife, Karen; his sons Kyle and Justin; daughter-in-law, Aileen; close family friend Anjana Setlur; his mother, Mary; his grandson, Hayden; his sister, Mary Renée Gordon; sisters-in-law: Mary Rice and Pamela Dyson, brothers-in-law Joseph Gordon, Elvis Chase, Leo Rice, Norman Dyson and Jeffrey O’Brien, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
Dan will be greatly missed, but his memory will be forever cherished.
