I started working with Dan in March 2018. As Xander said, he is an acquired taste, and I worked tirelessly to get to know Dan and gain his trust. By the end of 2018, I was dubbed the "Dan Whisperer" because I could talk to him with ease and he listened. I could understand him when others found him difficult. He trusted me and my work, and pushed me to make processes better. He never settled for good enough and expected everyone around him to do the same. He asked me my opinion about serious subjects, and valued my opinion. He shared tips (and photos) with me when he knew I was traveling places I had not been to before. I feel very honored to have worked so closely with Dan and will miss his guidance and leadership tremendously. This memorial service helped me realize that he's really gone and finally grieve. While we worked closely onsite, I only found one photo of us together, and this was at KubeCon China 2018.