Eskil "Scott" Danielson, 49, was an Andover Borough councilman and division manager for Warren County Communications.
UPDATE: Funeral services announced for Eskil "Scott" Danielson
A public servant and rescue squad member with longtime ties in Warren and Sussex counties died Saturday of a heart attack after answering a crash call that involved his 19-year-old daughter, officials said.
Scott DanielsonEskil "Scott" Danielson, 49, of Andover Borough in Sussex County, served on the Lakeland Rescue Squad, an emergency services unit.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the squad was dispatched to a crash along Route 206 on the border of Byram Township and Andover Borough.
Danielson quickly learned his 19-year-old daughter, Alycia, was the crash victim and helped the squad treat both her and the occupant of the other vehicle, said Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson, Scott's brother.
Scott Danielson traveled to Newton Medical Center to check on his daughter, and while in the waiting room suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed, Eric Danielson said. Scott was airlifted at 4:34 p.m. to Morristown Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Alycia Danielson has since been discharged from the hospital, Eric Danielson said.
Scott Danielson also leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Tammy, and two other children: Aaron, 28, who is with the U.S. Air Force at Fort Dix, N.J., and daughter Amanda, 21. He is also survived by his parents, father Eskil "Skip" Danielson, retired police chief of the Byram Township Police Department, his mother Judy Danielson, and brother Kevin Danielson, who serves as a firefighter in Clifton.
Arrangements are being handled by the Cochran Funeral Home in Independence Township in Warren County.
Ties in the community
Friends say Danielson and his entire immediate family had a passion for community service.
"Scott will be deeply missed," said Frank Wheatley, director of the Warren County Department of Public Safety, who worked closely with him. "His knowledge of emergency communications is unsurpassed."
Police in Washington Township, Warren County, took to the department's Facebook page Sunday to express condolences, calling Danielson a fixture in the community.
"Capt. Danielson was an invaluable asset to this department and many other public safety agencies in Warren County. Scott always put the public's safety first and foremost in his work and he was a true professional. He will be missed by many," the department said.
We would like to send our most sincere condolences to the Danielson family and the Warren County Communication center on...
Posted by Washington Township Police Department on Sunday, January 17, 2016
Scott Danielson began serving as a Lakeland Rescue Squad worker at age 14 in the role of "cadet." He went on to eventually serve as squad chief.
Immediately following graduation from Lenape Valley Regional High School in 1984, he became an emergency services dispatcher in Hopatcong, in Morris County and with the New Jersey State Police.
Many other roles in community service followed, with Eric Danielson saying his brother followed in their father's footsteps in helping the community. Eventually, Eric said, Scott finally found his niche with Warren County Communications in the early 1990s.
Capt. Scott Danielson most recently served as division manager for Warren County Communications, overseeing 35 employees. He also served on the Warren County Haz-Mat Team.
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In Sussex County, he served as Office of Emergency Management coordinator for Andover Borough; he was a past member of the Andover Borough Fire Co.; and he was currently serving his third, three-year term on Andover Borough Council.
Scott Danielson also was a former member of the New Jersey Fire Service.
"He's going to be well missed in the community," said Andover Councilman Robert Smith.
Pursuing a passion
Friends and family recalled Scott Danielson on Sunday as a man who always focused on the greater good.
"He was pursuing the biggest passion of his life in helping others, and unfortunately, succumbed to it," his brother said.
In recent years, he worked tirelessly to secure federal grants to buy more than $100,000 in new fire equipment, as well as funding for two new ambulances for the Lakeland Rescue Squad. He also was part of a team in 2006-07 that obtained about $800,000 in grant funding for new radios to aid Warren County police, fire and emergency medical technicians.
In his free time, family said, Scott Danielson enjoyed sporting events and was an avid fan of the Miami Dolphins, New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils and NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson.
His family vacationed every year at Walt Disney World in Florida.
"There's a phrase in a war movie that can sum up Scott and his life," Eric Danielson said. "There's nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. That's no doubt the truth."
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.