Daniel Sexton

To me a hero is someone who does something remarkable and inspiring in which he or she may get praise. I realize that a hero is also someone who silently affects the lives of others in a positive way without fanfare. I admire many people but my true hero is the one sitting in my living room watching Jeopardy. He is my dad.

Daniel Sexton was born in Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, New York. He is the third of four children born to William and Anne Sexton. His earliest years were in Central Islip before moving to Selden when he was 13.

When my dad was young he remembers his mom being upset that he had trouble reading. She would yell at him because she thought he wasn’t trying. She had his doctor check him and found out that he had trouble seeing the letters in the right order. They didn’t have a name for dyslexia back then. The only treatment at the time was professional eye exercises that cost much more than his parents could afford. He wound up getting by in school anyway as long as he didn’t have to read too much. He was always very good at anything mechanical. During his high school years he took all of the shop courses Newfield High School offered. He often gave up his advisory and lunch periods to do so. He excelled in carpentry, mechanical drawing classes, welding and mechanics.

My dad has always been a funny guy. He tells me stories that make me cry laughing.

He made it through the usual pimply teenage years. He had a part time job at Firestone Tire. After graduating Newfield in 1973 he went full time at Firestone and eventually became head mechanic. During that time he married and had two daughters. Unfortunately, his marriage didn’t last.

In 1982, he changed jobs and has been working for 27 years for the same company. It is now owned by G.E. Healthcare. He installs, Fixes, and maintains anesthesia machines and other major hospital equipment. He has received many service awards for excellence in his field.

My dad has never been afraid to try anything. When he was 29 he was on The David Letterman show. He was on a new segment called stupid human tricks. He would blow on coins and they would flip into a shot glass. He also had a very small part in the movie Masquerade.

After many years of knowing each other through work, my parents started to date. In January 1994 they married and in August 1995, I was born. Along with my sisters, he keeps his family close.

My dad has always been inspired by the love of how machinery works. He likes to spend time in his workshop making things. On August 29, 2006 he got a patent on a Reversible four cycle engine that he invented. It is patent #: 7096838. Besides his family, he is very proud of this accomplishment.

A couple of years ago his very close friend died. He had been friends with him since they were teenagers. His friend had a son who is my age. He is my friend. My dad talks to him like a father to mentor him. He often helps family, neighbors and friends when asked for help.

His hero is his father as he is mine. My dad has inspired me through his acts of kindness and perseverance. His mentoring and skills should not go unnoticed.