How Jeff and Pam Curran’s loss led them to support the Jamie Daniels Foundation.
By Stacey Winconek
On August 10, 2025, more than 150 guests gathered at Detroit’s Godfrey Hotel to celebrate a milestone 75 years in the making — the anniversary of JJ Curran Crane. But beyond marking the company’s success, President Jeff Curran used the moment to make an impact. In honor of the occasion, JJ Curran Crane donated $10,000 to the Jamie Daniels Foundation, turning a celebration of achievement into one of generosity and hope.
For Jeff and his wife, Pam, this gift carried personal meaning. On Feb. 3, 2017, their lives changed forever when their daughter, Meghan Steffl, lost her life to substance use disorder at age 31.
“It’s a very, very intense loss and you struggle to keep everybody going,” Jeff says.
Meghan — whom the couple describes as caring, thoughtful, and supportive —devoted her career to caring for others as a nurse in medical-surgical oncology. But after a devastating car accident left her with serious injuries, her own health began to decline.
“She was the passenger and her husband was the driver, and it was a pretty serious accident, and she ended up with a hip injury that required surgery over a period of time,” Pam says. “It got to be so bad that she had to leave her job.”
After Meghan’s accident, the family experienced several emotional highs and lows as they supported her through recovery, which Pam says lasted for most of 2016.
“We bounced back and forth from optimism to hope to setbacks… but getting her to this recovery was, inevitably, we didn’t reach the goal,” Jeff says.
After Meghan’s passing, the Currans sought ways to help others avoid similar heartbreak. As devoted Red Wings fans and season ticket holders, they were familiar with Ken Daniels and Lisa Daniels-Goldman, founders of the Jamie Daniels Foundation. They also found a deep connection to Jamie’s story because of the striking similarities in Jamie’s and Meghan’s experiences.
“Jeff encouraged me to get involved with the Jamie Daniels Foundation. It was hard at first because I’m a private person, and I didn’t know how I would feel sharing my experiences,” Pam says. “But I felt like I was helping, and if Jeff and I could at least help other people not to have to go through what we went through, that would be such a blessing. Now, I can guide someone better because of what the Jamie Daniels Foundation has given us with the education and resources.”
The Currans are passionate about reducing stigma, providing resources, and educating the community about addiction. Their commitment to this cause is also shaped by personal experience.
“I’m a recovering alcoholic. I’ve been in a solid recovery for 15 years,” Jeff says. “I’ve lost a sibling and a brother-in-law as well. Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of loss, but we’ve also had some great things recovery-wise, too. So, it’s double-edged sword.”
Jeff and Pam say that supporting the Jamie Daniels Foundation has been both healing and inspiring.
“They have been groundbreaking, and we are just passionate when we hear them talk. It rings every bell that we’ve experienced,” Jeff says.
Pam agrees.
“Both Jeff and I are honored to be part of this organization,” she says. I just feel so strongly about what a great thing they’re doing. It’s just amazing.”
