David Grover Haines

1935 – 2022
Brooklyn – David Grover Haines, age 87, died peacefully March 3, 2022 from complications of Parkinson’s disease at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn, CT., with family and dear friends nearby. David was born in 1935 in Boston, MA to Harry and Marjorie (Veinot) Haines. He graduated from Boston University in 1956 with a B.S. in Physical Education and in 1957, received his M.E. in Health Education.

He married Janet Place in 1956 and they moved to Beverly, MA where they had 3 children, and David taught at Wenham Junior High School 1956-1960. From 1960-1965 he became the Youth Program Director at the Roxbury (Boston) YMCA where he worked with local street gangs to minimize violence and to encourage these kids into more hopeful activities. He continued this work as the Resident Camp Director at Camp Ousamequin, the Boston Y’s summer camp. During this time his brother, Richard, was the director at another nearby summer camp. The brothers engaged in good-natured camp rivalries which included many practical jokes instigated in the middle of the night. David continued to play practical jokes on his friends his entire life-all harmless and in good fun.

In 1965, David and family moved to Willimantic, CT where he took over as the Executive Director at the Willimantic YMCA. In 1970 He joined the faculty at Eastern CT State University, during which time he received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from UCONN in 1975, and 1983 an M.S. in Management from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa professional honor society in Education and Delta Mu Delta honor society in Business Administration. David was much loved and respected by students for his mentorship, and other faculty members who voted him to be the Economics and Management Sciences Department Chair for 6 years. During his tenure he received many honors, including being chosen to deliver the Baccalaureate Address at the 1990 Centennial Commencement. In 1991 he received the Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and in 1993 the Distinguished Faculty Member Award. He earned Emeritus Status upon his retirement in 1993 and was inducted into the ECSU Athletics Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.

In retirement, David dove headfirst into his growing obsession with old mills, eventually becoming president of SPOOM (The Society for the Preservation of Old Mills). In addition to competently managing this niche non-profit he wrote many articles published in the Old Mill News and authored books about haunted mills and the role mills played as part of the Underground Railroad.
David was committed to public service and where he saw a need he tried to help. He wrote many letters to the editor and to his congresspeople, he was a Rotarian, a vocal member of the Dump The Dump committee, on various boards, organized and very successfully ran the Hastings Open (the proceeds provided scholarships to Camp Washington), served for years on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Windham Center, and many other activities too numerous to list.

In 2012, he and Janet moved to Creamery Brook Retirement Village in Brooklyn, Ct, where he remained active in SPOOM and St. Paul’s, playing golf, joking, and traveling.

David is predeceased by his parents, his brother, Richard, and wife, Janet. He is survived by his children, D.Scott Haines of Carlysle, PA., Diane Haines Williams of Eugene, OR, Jeffery P. Haines of Brooklyn, CT, 4 grandchildren, and his current love, Helen May of Brooklyn, CT.

Funeral service, committal of his ashes, and memorial reception will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Windham Center,27 Plains Rd, Windham, CT 06280, Saturday, March 19, 2022, beginning at 11 am. Masks are encouraged but not required. To attend virtually please follow the link at: stpaulswindham.org

Instead of flowers, David would prefer you make a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Episcopal Relief and Development, local organizations supported by St. Paul’s (Neighbors / Service – St. Paul’s Windham stpaulswindham.org, or a charity of your choosing whose mission is to provide help and hope to others.

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