An expert team tried to revive him, but Dr. Storer, University AirCare's first medical director, was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. He was 59.

His service to the region in the form of advancing emergency medical care is immeasurable, his colleagues say.

"When it came to emergency medical services, he basically was the sage in the area," said Donald Locasto, medical director for Cincinnati Fire Department. "He just gave so much of his time to the EMS community and the paramedics and the EMTs in the area that he's just going to be so sorely missed."

As a volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster Services, Dr. Storer was on hand to take command at two of the biggest disasters in Greater Cincinnati in the past three decades. He directed EMS personnel at the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in 1977 and The Who concert disaster at Riverfront Coliseum in 1979.

"Dan had been a board member and volunteer for the American Heart Association for over 25 years," said Lori Fovel, speaking on behalf of the association.

He "served as medical director of the Heart Mini Marathon from its inception until just a few years ago. He developed and supervised a thorough and comprehensive medical/first-aid system. Because of his work, our runners and walkers are never more than minutes away from care by medical professionals."

Shelby Louden, EMS coordinator at Mercy Franciscan-Western Hills, said, "EMS in Ohio is far better for having the likes of Dan Storer as an advocate for emergency medical services. He essentially made it what it is today in Ohio, especially here in the Cincinnati area. He had an unswerving dedication to EMS."

In 1984, Dr. Storer - along with Dudley Smith - founded University AirCare and served as its medical director until 1990. Dr. Storer developed the medical care policies and quality assurance procedures of the air medical transport team and directed all the care given during transport.

A professor of clinical emergency medicine at the UC College of Medicine since 1978, he was also assistant medical director for the Cincinnati Fire Department.

He served as medical director for Green, Union and Washington townships, and Bethel Tate fire department, as well as for the Hamilton County Communications Center and the Pendleton County Communications Center. He was the disaster and health coordinator for the judge adviser of Pendleton County.

Dr. Storer was born Feb. 8, 1945, in Smyrna, Tenn. He graduated from Miami University in 1967, receiving a bachelor's degree in zoology. He received a doctor of medicine degree from UC's College of Medicine in 1971 and served an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital (1971-72). He served residencies in internal medicine at University Hospital in 1974 and 1978 and one in emergency medicine from 1975 to 1977.

He served as an Air Force captain and general medical officer at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill.

His positions at University Hospital from 1978 until his death including CPR committee chairman; medical student adviser; and medical director of pre-hospital care education, clinical operation and university mobile care.

He also served as medical director of ground patient transport services for Health Alliance of Cincinnati, and chairman of the emergency cardiac care committee and president of the board of trustees for the American Heart Association.

Dr. Storer received the Bill Hall Award from the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1993; the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Heart Association Ohio Affiliate in 1995; the Outstanding Contributions to EMS Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1997; the EMS Spirit of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award from University Hospital and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1998; and the Dr. Peter J. Safer Award from the American Heart Association, Ohio Region ECC Committee, last year.

Survivors include his wife, Barb Dickison; two sons, Dr. Timothy Storer of Columbus and Douglas M. Storer of Dayton, Ohio; his mother, Mabel Storer of Williamsburg; a brother, Gary Storer of Crosby Township; and two granddaughters.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Woodhead Funeral Home, 310 W. Shelby St., Falmouth. Visitation is also one hour before funeral service at 2 p.m. Friday at the Falmouth Christian Church, 303 W. Shelby St.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com