REMEMBERNG DAN DECHAINE

from American Fencing magazine: End of Year 2022

by USA Fencing

USA FENCING EQUIPMENT REFURBISHMENT PROGRAM

Fencing lost a legend on May 20, 2022. Dan DeChaine had been a part of the fencing community for over 60 years, most notably as one of the preeminent armorers in the world. Born Oct. 29, 1934, in the small town of Paso Robles, Calif., he attended Pomona College, where he fell in love with fencing.

REMEMBERING DAN

DECHAINE

BY DEBBIE AMSBAUGH

DAN DECHAINE WAS A HIGH-LEVEL FENCER AS WELL AS ARMORER.

Bob Lightner, a USA Fencing armorer, recalled that before Dan became the expert he was, his first fencing coach handed him an unthreaded French foil blade and a pommel and asked him to thread it. When Dan got home, he only had access to a small rectangular file. He spent the whole night cutting threads with that file. The coach was surprised that it took so long and asked why he didn’t use a die. That was the beginning of a long road of becoming a tool expert.

If you knew Dan, you knew he had every gadget, tool and device, inventing the ones he could not find.

From his first Junior Worlds to his last Olympics, Michael Marx has fond memories of helping Dan with equipment. “He always brought more than anyone could imagine,” Michael says. “Dan always had the right tool or whatever gadget was needed to help the athletes.” Michael often found Dan up late working on the entire team’s equipment while listening to a beautiful aria and sampling some local beer.

Dan was generous with his knowledge and time. Ted Li shared that he was “…gracious to all in the global fencing family, Dan was a consummate armorer, whose knowledge of the various aspects of armoring was unparalleled. He always was willing to help aspiring armorers learn something new or to improve their technique.”

Irene Edgerton credits Dan’s teaching and encouragement for her being hired at her first NAC and led to becoming head tech, team armorer on an international level and pursuing her dream of appointment to the FIE’s Electronics Signaling Equipment and Installation (SEMI) Commission.

Irene summarized Dan’s philosophy of armory, in what she terms the “Tao of Dan”: “Remember armorers are here for the fencers, first and foremost,” she said. “There are three things that guide armorers’ actions. Safety is first. It’s their responsibility to keep them and the sport as safe as possible. That is why armorers test masks. Second is fairness. Each fencer deserves an equal opportunity to score. That is why they test the lames. Lastly, armorers work to make the event efficient. A break in the action or flow is detrimental to the fencers. The slightest equipment problem can cause a break. That is why they test body cords, floor cords and machines. Dan taught her to be a living example of professionalism.”

Dan DeChaine’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. He worked the 1968, 1976, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games and untold international, national, and regional tournaments and events. He was elected to SEMI Commission in 1985 and served until 2016. Brian Rosen credits Dan’s success on that committee with his facility for languages. He was able to speak to most of the members in their native language or a language they knew well. Dan spoke French, German, Spanish, Russian, and some Japanese. In 2001, Dan received the USA Fencing

Ray Miller Award for Service to the Sport of Fencing. In 2007, he was inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame.

His love of beer, especially Guinness, rivaled his love of fencing and family. Bob remembers rooming with Dan at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) and searching for bars serving Guinness. The closet place never had it until one day when Bob dropped some off beforehand to surprise Dan. When Bob asked for a Guinness, the owner explained they didn’t serve it. Bob explained there was some there. The owner paled stating he could lose his license but reluctantly poured one glass to which Dan exclaimed, “They have REAL beer here.”

A few years ago, Dan took a trip to Ireland where, you guessed it, he made a pilgrimage to the Guinness Brewery. He came home with a T-shirt he wore often, according to his daughter, Laura Van Dran.

The thought of Dan wearing a T-shirt is a surprise to many. John Heil recalls rooming with Dan and Buckie Leach at the OPTC. Dan was “resting” on the bed with his shoes and tie on, shirt buttoned. And, Buckie was Buckie. Brian Rosen remembers Dan as “incredibly kind, always willing to teach, always willing to lend a hand and always well dressed.” “Whether local, regional, collegiate, national or international competition, people always saw the same Dan DeChaine – impeccably dressed in tie and jacket – helping, mentoring and guiding those around him to be their best,” stated Ted Li.

Dan attended a few Fencing and Fine Wine (FFW) events hosted by Michael Marx, his wife Lisa and Thomas Theuerkauf in Bordeaux, France. On one occasion, the fencers in France came home late to find the gate locked. The only way in was over a 10-foot iron gate. The younger fencers could lift each other up and over, but what about the beloved very elderly armorer? He must go over. He wasn’t afraid. On the top, he balanced and swayed. He fell. In slow motion, a fencer slipped under him wrapped his strong arms around him. They came crashing down, but both stood to cheers. Hence the new Olympic sport of “The Great Dan DeChaine toss” was born.

Dan’s adventures weren’t just limited to fencing. The ziplining photo is proof . Laura booked a cabin and ziplining for the family. Afterwards, Dan admitted to fearing heights but didn’t want to be a wet blanket.

Another story Laura tells is of the story of Dan the animal lover, rescuing over 15 cats and countless birds. Dan had adopted a kitten he named Sasha. Laura had no idea until she was speaking with the person who helped Dan out around the house, who asked about who was going to take care of the cat when Dan went to a fencing event. Laura assured her that her father DID NOT have a cat. She shot right back, “Laura, he has a cat. Her name is Sasha, and he only speaks Russian to her.”

Dan wasn’t one to speak of personal things. Michael Marx said, “On that rare occasion he spoke of family his eyes lit up and the love would fill the room. Myra (his wife) was nothing short of an angel on Earth and his children (Laura and Rob) were her gift to the Earth. I’m not kidding, Dan expressed this so genuinely and honestly that I prayed to someday feel that way.”

Dan told Laura many times that fencing saved his life. He said being part of the fencing community was the best part of his life and that he could never repay the blessings and experiences he received.

We are all better off for knowing Dan DeChaine. His legacy and impact to the fencing community will live on.