By Charlie at Pasty Central on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 12:02 am:
In case you missed Monday's Pasty Cam, we received the news that our friend and colleague Dan Urbanski had passed away. Where do we begin to tell how much Dan meant to all of us at Pasty Central? Quite possibly you would not be viewing this website today if not for Dan.
Pasty.com began in 1996 as a lighthearted look at the U.P., with occasional pictures of Upper Michigan sights, links, recipes and shots of our elderly residents at Still Waters making pasties. In 1997, Dan Urbanski began his wilderness diaries at QuietlyWild.com, becoming one of the first websites to receive the Golden Pasty Award. Early in 1998 my son Jonathan and I comitted ourselves to bringing a fresh picture every day to Pasty Central, a glimpse of life in the U.P. Little did we realize the effort and thousands of man-hours it would require to keep that commitment.
A few other amateur photographers joined us in those early days, but Dan was the first in the professional community to recognize our efforts with the "Pasty Cam". He stepped in to advance this labor of love by lending his insight and technical skill to the project. He breathed new life into this daily feature.
Dan Urbanski was a tireless worker and supporter of our work at Still Waters in Calumet. In this final decade of his life he inspired thousands by capturing the rugged beauty of the U.P., and encouraging others to do the same. I especially appreciated Dan often taking the initiative to do the daily picture and write-up on the Pasty Cam... just because he loved the U.P.
I've been in touch with Dan's wife Patty and she passed along the following words about his life and passions. He will certainly be remembered, and dearly missed:
Daniel F. Urbanski, 50, passed away peacefully at home on August 13th after a long illness. He was born July 21st, 1954 in Hamtramck, MI, the son of Frank and Rose Urbanski. Dan graduated from Hazel Park high school in 1972.
Dan toured the Upper Peninsula and found that Silver City and Ontonagon County had the friendliest people and decided to put down roots. A self-taught photographer, Dan turned his "shutterbug" hobby into a business and opened Silver Image Studio in 1977. His work included the full range of portraiture, commercial and aerial photography, but he was probably best known for his outstanding "nature pictures." Dan knew where to go, when and under what conditions to capture Nature at her most photogenic. Wherever he went, he created images, and his interpretation of the Porcupine Mountains became the standard by which all such photos are judged. He was able to share his love of the area through stunning multi-image slide programs, which he set to music and presented throughout the Midwest. Dan was also selected in 1992 for an Artist-in-residence program at Isle Royale National Park. Urb's pictures have won numerous awards and he has been published in Backpacker, Midwest Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Lake Superior Magazine. His work has often been featured in Michigan Travel Bureau promotions.
His commitment did not end there, however. Dan was a driving force and tireless worker for the Porcupine Mountain Chamber and a founding member of the Friends of the Porkies. For eight years he was the voice of the "Friends" through the Quill newsletter, which he created.
Whether picking up litter on M-107, tallying ski-race results, or running a stable fly "trap line," Dan was the first to step up to the plate. Generous, intelligent, scientifically minded, curious,. Out-door enthusiast, mountain biker, kayaker, camper, hiker, photographer. Friend.
He was preceded in death by his mother Rose and survived by his father Frank, wife Patty, mother-in-law Elsie Taurianen, niece Sara Moilanen and numerous relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 22 at 2pm EDT at the AmericInn Superior View Restaurant (Paul's) in Silver City.
