Ever since the Mount Pleasant resident was small, he enjoyed drawing and writing in cursive.

His first grade teacher, Mrs. Straight kept him after school to copy the Dick and Jane readers in the Colorado town where he grew up.

The Air Force brought Colunga to the Charleston area in 1958 where he spent seven years in the Air Force and one year in Vietnam.

Colunga found his way back to using his creative talents at MUSC, where he spent 29 years.

Originally hired as a tradesman, Colunga discovered his niche with graphics and was given the responsibility to design the lettering for the signs. This developed into taking care of all of the sign work both inside and outside.

When MUSC was building the Children’s Hospital, the drafted out plans required murals with various color schemes and childlike images of clowns and horses.

Those involved with the large construction project saw that there was no need to outsource the work. Under the direction of Tony Von Kolnitz, Colunga was grateful and flattered to be asked to paint the murals and columns in the new children’s hospital in 1987.

For two months, he worked 12-14 hour days.

“It was overwhelming at first,” Colunga said about the scope of the project.

But he divided it piece by piece to make it more manageable.

The fish murals on the four columns on the first floor are still there. Everytime Colunga has appointments at MUSC, he sees his work.

A twist of events

When Colunga’s beloved wife, Sandie suffered a stroke in 2000, his life as he knew it dramatically changed.

The once excellent Bible student and teacher, was no longer able to care for herself.

Colunga retired from MUSC the week of 9-11-01 to become his wife’s full-time care-giver.

He watches her bedridden state on a television monitor which gives him a little flexibility.

A newly discovered gift

Once Colunga got the routine down, he needed an outlet from the emotional and physical drain of taking care of his wife.

“I wanted something to occupy my time so I started wood-carving,” he said.

So, last June, Colunga began  carving fish and bird vignettes.   

He spends hours on the intricate details of each piece.   When family members relieve his care-taking duties, he likes to walk on the Pitt Street Bridge to gain inspiration.

Colunga has converted Sandie’s sewing room into his carving and drafting room.

Longtime friend of over 30 years of Dan and Sandie’s, Susanne Lemke, said, “in the midst of this challenge, God has gifted Dan not only with great faith but also a new hobby.”

The rainbow trout was Colunga’s first serious carving. He had carved wooden boats for the bazaar at Stella Maris Church in the 1970’s. He and Sandie used to make their own nativity scenes.

When Colunga first started carving, he was using the “idea conceived in [his head].”

He thought back to the Colorado River and wondered what a rainbow trout at the bottom of the river would look like.

Colunga gets on a roll.

“I can’t stop until it all comes together,” he said.

So far, Colunga has created a total of eight creations and is working on more. He shys away from selling them although has given a few away as presents for family members.

His neighbors and family members often take part in getting him objects to go with his carving, such as driftwood or a piece of coral.

“I tell people to find something with character,” Colunga said.

Although he is unsure if his wife of 47 years recognizes him every time he gives her her medication, his love is apparent and he still feels blessed.

“I can’t get over how God has blessed me,” he said.

Colunga then decides it is time to return back to his workshop and let his creative mind take over.