We Will Always Remember Daryl
(and the amazing family who loves him!)

Daryl Lee Garner was a very special child whose gentle spirit and beautiful smile brightened the lives of more people than he will ever know. Even today, he lives on through his final gifts as an organ donor, and in all of our hearts.

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How did Josh Groban and his fans find out about Daryl and what happened next?

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When Colorado Josh Fan Nancy Lambert clicked onto the Denver Post website to search for information on Josh Groban's upcoming concert at Red Rocks, she was not prepared for what she found.

The website search under Josh's name brought up an obituary of a young boy who had died recently. His name was Daryl, and he was more than just one of Josh's fans; Josh's music had actually been speech therapy for him.

This special child who had always struggled to speak found that his voice soared when he sang along with Groban.

He often pointed to the family's stereo, specifically to the Bose speakers and said "Mom, 'Osh 'Oban, 'Ose."

He wanted to hear Josh's beautiful voice come out of those speakers.

The louder, the better.

I am sure that the Kresnik's had no idea what would happen when they told Post writer Claire Martin about Daryl's love of Groban's music for his obituary; how could they? How could they have anticipated that Daryl's life and loss would touch the hearts of so many fellow fans so deeply that they would do all they could to make sure that Daryl was properly remembered by all they could reach with his story?

Nancy sent me an email with the link to the obituary; and after reading it I knew that other fans would react the same way that we did: with immense love for this child and for the family who sheltered him from a world that up to that point in his life had been so unkind to him. We also really wanted Josh to know about Daryl. It was so important to the Kresnik's that he know about the love that Daryl had for him.

We are thankful to Avnet Management and all there for helping get Daryl's story to Josh. His love for Josh was so pure, so complete. He loved Josh without ever asking anything more than just to hear the music. It was all he needed.

Nancy posted the information at Friends of Josh Groban (Josh's official fan club) I posted it at joshgroban.com and we held our breath. Immediately, responses came in from not only all over the US and Canada but from as far away as the Philippines. Everyone loved Daryl, and wanted to remember him.

With the help of Claire Martin at the Post, I was able to contact Mary Kresnik by telephone. My hands were trembling as I dialed the numbers. I did not want to intrude on the family's privacy, but knowing that they had given their permission for me to call, I did. I am so glad that I have been blessed from that day on to have been able to call the Kresnik's my friends.

Through letters, pictures, emails, and many phone calls over the months, I have come to know the family, and through them, Daryl. They continue to be a part of my life for which I am forever grateful. I'm also grateful to Nancy especially because if she hadn't found that article none of this would ever have happened!

That same brilliant Nancy Lambert formulated a plan by which she hoped to get the Kresnik's to Josh's Red Rocks show, which was sold out. She enlisted the aid of a local reporter Kirk Montgomery (NBC 9News) who was as blown away by Daryl as we were. He contacted KOSI their sister-station, and thanks to them all, Daryl's family was able to have a truly unforgettable night at Josh's August 19, 2004 concert at Red Rocks!

THANK YOU Kirk! You're a hero.

Josh Groban then surprised us all and made the evening a true tribute to Daryl by inviting the family backstage to meet with him before the show.

And as if that wasn't enough, he gave the family another amazing gift. He stunned all in the sold-out audience by dedicating his beautiful performance of "To Where You Are" to Daryl. To the knowledge of Josh's fans and even members of his team, this was the first time Josh had ever dedicated a song to anyone by name at one of his concerts. What more fitting tribute and remembrance could there be?

None that I can think of.

We can't possibly thank you enough, Josh, for everything that you've done, then and since (and you know what that means!) and we know that it was a night you will always remember, too. Thank you to everyone who had a part in this, from every fan who signed the guest book to Lynne at Avnet Management for her concern and kindness.

I have more respect for the Kresnik family, Nancy Lambert, Josh Groban, and especially Daryl than words could ever articulate. Thank you is an insufficient expression to convey how grateful I am to have been allowed a small part in this miracle.

Mary, John, this love and respect was magnified a thousand times upon finding out just weeks ago on Christmas Eve that Daryl was also an organ donor. The generosity of his family would surely have made him so proud, in allowing his final living act on this Earth to be one of saving, and improving, life for many people he would never meet in person. He really has helped heal the world, heart, body and soul.

It is my privilege, with help from the Kresnik family, to be able to share with everyone now the story of how many people Daryl is still helping, every day. Click here to read letters about the people Daryl's organs are helping, including the thanks of one of his recipients.

He truly was an "angel unaware" as Mary always says, and I will always be thankful to Daryl, personally, for bringing his wonderful family into our lives. Mary, John, Kenny, Meagan, Derryk, Christopher, and Lorenzo continue to move and inspire me daily, and for that, dear Daryl, and for your beautiful soul, I will always love you.


Daryl's family is still providing home, love, and safe haven to several foster children with exceptional medical needs. If you would like to contact them to pass on encouragement or to remember Daryl, please email Ro for more information.

Thank you so much for caring and wanting to help us remember "one of our own". Daryl has touched more lives than he ever could have imagined possible; we must never allow his heroic life, and gifts to us all, to be forgotten.



~Ro, Nancy, Molly, J., and Sue