Kevin and Michele Decoteau, parents of Daniel Decoteau, with a picture of their son who died in August 2021 from a traumatic brain injury. They are shown with Gary Swain of Marblehead, Mass., the recipient of Daniel's heart. Courtesy photo/Gate City Casino

NASHUA – Gate City Casino was presented with the Employer Recognition Award on Dec. 16, citing its unwavering support for the family of 39-year-old Milford resident Daniel Decoteau, who died on Aug. 6, 2021 after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

The commendation is given by New England Donor Services to “employers or workplaces that went above and beyond in support of an employee or employee’s family, during their organ donation or transplant experience.”

At the time of his passing, Decoteau was the casino’s co-operations manager as well as a veteran of the Iraq War and a father of four.

Following Decoteau’s untimely death, his family donated his organs and saved four lives, including Gary Swain of Marblehead, Mass., who received Decoteau’s heart. Nine months after the transplant surgery, Swain traveled to Nashua to meet Decoteau’s mother, Michele. He also brought along a stethoscope so she could hear her son’s heart beating.

At the casino, the managers now host the Dan Decoteau Veteran’s Day poker tournament every November and the Danno golf tournament every June. They also named the poker room in Decoteau’s memory, calling it Danno’s Room.

The casino continues to host several fundraisers throughout the year to educate the public about the importance of organ donation.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 103,000 individuals on the National Transplant Waiting List. Tragically, 17 of them die each day and one new patient is added every eight minutes. As of September, kidneys were the most sought after organ with 89,792 patients waiting for transplants.