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Dan Steffen After Prep South, I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 with a BS in Pre-Professional Studies, then earned a doctorate in Medical Physiology from the University of Missouri—Columbia in 1974, followed by postdoctoral research at Shell Development Company in Modesto, CA. I started working at General Foods in 1976 doing product-related research in Nutrition and Physiology until 1990 in Tarrytown, NY and Cranbury, NJ (with company changes to Kraft General Foods and Kraft Foods). I then continued with the company in Scientific Regulatory Affairs in Tarrytown again and Glenview, IL, debating scientific aspects of nutrition labeling and claims in Washington, DC trade and science organizations as well as becoming an expert in coffee and health issues for company coffee interests in North America, Europe, and Japan. I retired in March, 2013. I married Kathy Peterson in 1974 and have 4 children: twin daughters Maegan and Danika (undetected until birth!), a third daughter Mollie, and “miracle” son Dan—born between 1977-1980, a veritable whirlwind cutting a tumultuous swath through our life! We lived in central New Jersey for 18 years, enjoying all the craziness of children in school activities and extracurricular sports, neighborhood gatherings, and trips to the Jersey shore. I managed to keep my music interests alive by playing guitar and bass in our church contemporary music group. After the older girls moved out, we relocated to the Jersey shore on Long Beach Island—I became a working beach bum, with travel between Chicago, meetings around the country and home. Kathy died of a brain aneurysm in 2004, and I began working from home to care for my son. In 2006, I married Anne Giesecke, a great friend and mentor I had met during my many Washington, DC trips. Although we spent a few years in different cities due to work and family obligations, we now reside in Sarasota, FL. Thanks to Anne, I have been introduced to archeology research (her doctorate), in particular shipwrecks, e.g., two different years doing land-based work on a 16th century wreck on the Baja coast. However, I have not taken up scuba diving to accompany her on the underwater studies. So retired in Sarasota is paradise in the winter, a bit warm in the summer, with a great variety of amusements to fill the days. I still hope to find a musical outlet of some type—I had played with a group last year for a few months; and I have accompanied a local resident pianist playing for fund raisers for Parkinson’s disease research. I recently joined an oversight committee for our community association with responsibility for the exterior appearance of the various types of homes we have here —more time-consuming than advertised! Of course, there are the grandparent duties with 5 grandchildren in NJ and MA as well as the joys and sorrows that come with watching my children mature into their own lives.
