Daniel Abramowicz came to Metro Transit for the benefits. He stayed for love. “The best thing that came out of Metro Transit for me was my wife,” he said. 

Dan and his wife, Michelle Sommers, met while working at different garages in the early 1990s. What began as professional overlap turned into familiarity and then partnership, shaped by shared schedules and a mutual understanding of transit life. “We just clicked,” he said. “We got used to each other, had a lot of fun together, and we still do.” 

Before joining transit, Daniel drove a school bus, a job that introduced him to long days behind the wheel and the appeal of steady work. As friends and co-workers began making the move to Metro Transit, he followed. The benefits mattered, but the work itself quickly took hold. “I had a lot of fun for the first few weeks, then months, then years,” he said. 

Over the next two decades, Daniel worked out of nearly every garage in the system, building relationships across shifts, routes, and job titles. He spent about 20 years as an operator before stepping into a union representative role, advocating for coworkers and gaining a broader perspective on the organization. 

Later, he transitioned into a dispatcher position, remaining close to daily operations even as his driving days slowed. The role kept him connected to operators and the rhythm of the system, supporting service from behind the scenes. “I had a lot of fun with the people I worked with and got to know a lot of people over the years,” he said.,” he said. “I just don’t want to forget anyone.” 

For Daniel, retirement is not a clean break. Metro Transit remains a place he feels welcome, somewhere he can return to ride, visit, and reconnect. “I don’t think anyone’s ever really gone for good,” he said. 

Daniel retired in January 2026 after 33 years of service. In retirement, he looked forward to traveling, spending time with his dogs, and riding his motorcycle.