Survivor of Kankakee regatta boat crash dies of heart attack 09/17/2013 10:20 AM
The man who survived one of the most horrific crashes in the history of Kankakee's annual Labor Day weekend boat races has died.

Daniel Schwartz, the racer who crashed on the Kankakee Country Club's 17th fairway in 2010, was felled by a heart attack as he was watching boat racing Sunday in California.

Schwartz, 60, was able to return to the boat racing pits as an official after nearly 18 months of rehabilitation. In September 2012, he returned to the country club to see where his SST 120 racing machine dropped — from 75 feet in the air — and plowed into the turf. He had no memory of the incident.

"He was one of the strongest men I have ever known," said fellow boat racer Tammy Wolf, of Clifton. She added that he was one of the officials at this year's event on the Kankakee River. He was part of the crew weighing the boats before technical inspections.

"For years and years, we could always count on Dan and his wife, Jean, to make the trip out from California," said Brad Kuntz, one of the regatta chairmen. "When I think about all he went through in his recovery process, it's just difficult to accept that he's gone."

On that day, Sept. 5, 2010, Schwartz was part of a three-boat incident at the east end of the race course. His boat shot into the bank, sending it skyward. It landed upside down on the course where rescue crews quickly extricated him amid dripping fuel.

Schwartz suffered massive head and neck injuries, as well as multiple leg fractures. He was airlifted to a Chicago medical center and later transferred to a rehabilitation facility closer to his home in San Leandro, Calif.

During a walk on the golf course last summer, Schwartz noted that he was happy to be back in Kankakee and thrilled to be working the pits. But that fairway meant nothing to him.

"Really, this is just a golf course to me," he said. "I've never really seen it before,"

— Dennis Yohnka


∼Former Corvallis resident Danial H. "Dan" Schwartz passed away Sept. 15, 2013. His wisdom, keen wit and humor will be missed by all who knew Dan.

Born on Flag Day, June 14, 1953, in Corvallis, he was the son of Charles W. and Helen (Smith) Schwartz. Dan grew up in Corvallis, attending St. Mary's Catholic School and later Corvallis Public Schools.

Dan was a skilled craftsman, a journeyman auto trimmer, designing and providing custom interiors for vintage and custom show cars.

Always looking for new challenges, Dan moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1980 to open his own marine canvas business. His specialty was designing and building custom enclosures, tops and covers for yachts, sailboats and anything that floats. His business was very successful and his services were in high demand throughout the Bay Area.

Dan married Jean Mackay in 1989 in Newark, Calif., and later settled in San Leandro, Calif. Both Dan and Jean had been involved at a young age in racing boats with their families, and they formed a racing team, competing in many national events. They won national titles and set competition course and straightaway records with the American Power Boat Association.

Dan and Jean were both very passionate about their sport, involved on a regional and national level with the administration of the group.

Dan's mission was to inspire people to never, ever, ever give up, no matter how big or overwhelming the obstacles in front of you seem to be. That lesson was recognized by those who witnessed his miraculous recovery from a racing accident in 2010 in Kankakee, Ill.; the stroke he suffered in 2011; and further demonstrated by his return to the Kankakee Nationals in 2012 as honorary inspector.

Without a doubt, everyone who met Dan has been influenced by his personality and accomplishments here on earth.

Dan is survived by his wife, Jean Mackay-Schwartz of San Leandro; his brother, David L. Schwartz (Darlene) of Alpine; and trusted companion race dog, Coco.