David E. Goranson

David Eric Goranson, 54, of West Hartford, CT (formerly of both Bristol and Vernon). son of Don and Peg Goranson of Cromwell, CT (formerly of Bristol), passed away on April 8, 2024, at Complete Care at Fox Hill in Vernon following several years of cardiology and pulmonary concerns, as well as the challenges of life with Prader-Willi syndrome, a developmental disability.
Born in Bristol on May 6, 1969, he was a 1988 graduate of Bristol Eastern High School and later worked for many years as a custodian on the Hartford campus of Oak Hill School for the Blind. David had lived in Oak Hill group homes for nearly 34 years. In addition to his parents, David is survived by several cousins, aunts, and uncles.
For 20 years David served as a proud member of the Town of Vernon Fire Department. Although his developmental disability prevented him from interior structural firefighting, he was able to find a niche by regularly attending Monday night drills, riding to fire calls on his beloved ET 141, participating in training and, for community service, by selling Christmas trees, passing the boot for Muscular Dystrophy, and in distributing “Toys for Tykes.”
Mr. Goranson’s love of the fire service was well known and spread to wherever his family traveled. High on his list were ride-alongs with the FDNY (Engine 54/Truck 4) and on a Seattle Fire Department tiller truck. He was well known at the Bristol Fire Department, where shift commanders were known to have given him rides home from school, and at the fire station in Ogunquit, Maine, where his family has a summer cottage.
David was also a lover of trains and would rave about his experiences aboard Amtrak’s high-speed Acela between New Haven and Washington DC. He loved to watch trains at the Old Saybrook station and was a fixture late on Thursday afternoons at the Berlin station, where CTRail and Amtrak conductors waved and knew him by name.
UConn basketball also earned a spot high on the list of David’s most favorite activities. As a season ticket holder for UConn Women’s Basketball, he treasured a #5 uniform jersey personally signed for him by Paige Bueckers. And so as not to discriminate, he was able to show everyone an 8 X 10 photo autographed by Donovan Clingan as well.
David also loved sharing time with former Bristol Eastern classmates, attending Prader-Willi syndrome annual conferences in locations across the country, doing the full array of seasonal yardwork, going on a daily coffee run to Dunkin Donuts, the Boston Red Sox, family gatherings of all types, and going to the town landfill in Ogunquit, Maine to empty barrels of pine needles.
David’s life will be celebrated during a Memorial Service to be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill Street, in Berlin, CT. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 19, at the Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave. in Bristol. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family.
Family members wish to thank David’s caregivers from Oak Hill as well as three extraordinary physicians: Cardiologist Richard Soucier, Pulmonologist Daniel Gerardi, and Primary Caregiver John Schifferdecker.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Research Fund of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA), 1032 E. Brandon Blvd. 4744, Brandon, FL 33511, or to the Town of Vernon Fire Department “Toys for Tykes” Program, 280 West Street, Vernon, CT 06066. Please visit David’ memorial web-site at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of David E. Goranson, please visit our Tree Store.