David Duncan Haine, born June 25, 1931 in Indianapolis, Indiana, passed through transition in Orlando on October 8, 2016 at the age of 85. David is survived by his wife, Patricia Louise Haine; daughters Nina Berman, Olivia Demarco, Angela Chicoine, Paula Brooks, and Valerie Yadon; as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Raised on his grandmother's farm till the age of 6, and then returning for his formative teenage years, David often said "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy." David was a true Renaissance Man. By the age of 30, David had been a farmer, a wrestler, master machinist, instructor in the Naval Reserves, a singer in a local band and a community theater performer. In 1960 he moved to New York to pursue a full-time career as a singer. During his first year of tireless auditions, he studied with master acting teacher, Sanford Meisner (the creator of the Meisner Technique). David was famous for his perseverance and dedication to hard work. After a year of classes and auditions, he booked his first show and never looked back.
In 1963, David was cast in the Equity Library Theatre's production of Plain and Fancy, where he met a young dancer, Patti Boxall. He loved to retell the story of the first time he saw her. It was snowing and he was walking through the streets of Manhattan to the show's first rehearsal. A woman was walking in front of him, and he thought by the way she walked that she must be a dancer. Little did he know that he was following his future wife on her way to the exact same rehearsal. He called that moment the "boots-in-the-snow." They married in 1964, a marriage lasting nearly 52 years. As a couple, they toured together in two First National Company Tours: the ground-breaking musical Cabaret (featuring Signa Hasso and directed by Hal Prince) and the musical Zorba the Greek starring Chita Rivera and John Raitt (directed by Hal Prince and assistant conductor Paul Gemignani).
A member of Actor's Equity Association, David worked alongside greats such as Elaine Stritch, Gordon McRae, Betty Hutton, Walter Slezak and Bert Parks. He appeared in the off-Broadway productions of Elizabeth the Queen at City Center, and I Want You at the Maidman Playhouse. From 1960 – 1972, he appeared in dozens of productions in regional theatres around the country such as Paint Your Wagon, Take Me Along, Fanny, Hit the Deck, Bells Are Ringing, The New Moon, Gypsy, Guys & Dolls, My Fair Lady, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Kismet, Pajama Game, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Private Lives. His beautiful baritone voice and commanding stature led to leading roles as Frank Butler (Annie Get Your Gun), Bill Sykes (Oliver), and El Gallo (The Fantasticks).
In 1972, David and Patti left New York and moved to Orlando, Florida. David was soon hired by Walt Disney World as the lead in a popular Magic Kingdom show "The Diamond Horseshoe Review." He would go on to play Diamond Jim (earning the nickname Diamond Dave) 5 times a day for over 9 years. During this time he also appeared at Orlando's Edyth Bush Civic Theatre as The King of Siam in The King and I as well as numerous summer and winter stock shows. Then in 1981, after a series of unfortunate talent-layoffs throughout Magic Kingdom, resulting in his own, David's past training as a master machinist would come in handy. He was able to continue his tenure at Walt Disney World as the Close Tolerance Master Machinist in Central Shops – Disney's onsite workshop. He was a specialist in his field and hand-crafted many of the intricate parts for rides such as Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, The Great Movie Ride and many more. David retired from Disney in 1996.
After a lifetime of performing and bringing joy to others, his most cherished role was father. His 3 daughters from his first marriage in Indianapolis, Angela, Paula and Valerie, held a sacred place in his heart throughout his life. He and Patti's 2 daughters, Olivia and Nina, were raised with an abundance of love… and music. He will be remembered for these two things above all others. His voice was truly a gift, one he wanted to share with everyone around him. And he often did. David always said the most important things in life were "Peace, Love, and Tranquility," virtues he valued in other people, and wished there was more of in the world. A legacy of love and music will live on with all those who were fortunate enough to know and love David Haine.