"Irish Whisper" walk honors Danny Kane

By Ginny Raue WEST MILFORD — Danny Kane never made it to the Pinecliff Lake “Irish Whisper” walk for lymphoma research. He did walk for the cure in West Windsor, along with family and friends, but he lost his battle with lymphoma in 2009, at 56 years of age.

After his passing Patti Kane, his wife, took up the mantle and sought the sanction of the Lymphoma Research Foundation to start up a West Milford walk. She promised she could make it work. It was no empty promise.

By April 28, 2012, the little group of 16 who had started walking in 2007 had swelled to approximately 400 people. The “Irish Whisper Walk for Hope in Memory of Danny Kane” has definitely found its home. In the past few years, along with proceeds from dedicated golf outings and funds raised at Macopin School, the group has raised approximately $140,000 for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Danny Kane was a well-respected and admired physical education teacher at the township’s middle school. He and Patti were married for 30 years and were blessed with three children, Tricia, Daniel and Kathleen.

“He really had a way with people. You met him and fell in love with him,” Patti said.

Speaking to Patti on what would have been Danny’s birthday, she reminisced about meeting Danny on St. Patrick’s Day. From that day forward they never missed a parade and he considered it his lucky day. He often teased her about her rather audible manner of communicating, especially with her girlfriends, calling it her “Irish Whisper;” and so the name of the walk came to be.

Patti’s emotions lie close to the surface. She chokes up when she talks about her husband and several times had to take a deep breath as she spoke before the crowd of walkers.

“It is with great pride that we walk here on the roads of Pinecliff Lake together today, with hope in our hearts to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said.

Helping others is what Danny wanted and Patti knows he was watching over the crowd, a smiling Irish angel.

She and her family take great comfort from the support of the walkers, the volunteers, the contributors and the township emergency services that readily help out.

“All the love and friendship is forever etched in our hearts,” she said. And all the love the Kane family has for Danny now goes forward to help others. May the road rise up to meet them.

For more photos from the Irish Whisper Walk for Hope, go to westmilfordmessenger.com.