Daniel Walter Gaiser Jr.

PORTLAND – Daniel Walter Gaiser Jr. passed away peacefully at 80 years of age, on April 19, 2026.

Dan served the Portland community for over 30 years as a social worker at the Maine Medical Psychiatry Partial Hospital program, Broadway Crossing, volunteer on the Ingraham Crisis Hotline, and respected instructor in “A Different Choice”, one of Portland’s early court-ordered abuser education programs. He was also a longtime member of Mainely Men and the Peaceful Harbor Buddhist Sangha.

Dan was known for his compassion, generosity, therapeutic skills, humor, and openness about mental health issues, including those from which he himself suffered.

Dan is survived by his son, James “Skippy” Sanders, now a professor of Chemistry at Western New Mexico University, his daughter-in-law, Monica Sanders; his 8-month-old granddaughter, Tara Sanders; and by James’ mother and stepfather, Dottie and Paul Lacy.

A celebration of Dan’s life will be held in Portland on May 31 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Email [email protected] for details about how to join in person or online.

Donations in Dan’s honor may be given to:

Maine Public Radio (www.mainepublic.org);

Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org); or the

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI.org)