"Such great memories of watching Doc play at Union South after Wisconsin home football games in the 1980s. Wonderful memories I will always treasure."
In loving memory of
Doster "Doc" De Haven Jr
June 20, 1931 - August 12, 2016
DeHaven, Doster "Doc" Jr.
Blow, Gabriel Blow.
Beloved father, musician, and teacher, Doster Robert "Doc" De Haven Jr, passed to heaven on Friday, August 12, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. His rendition of "Basin Street Blues" accompanied him and his loving family on his final procession at Agrace Hospice in the early morning hours.
Doc was the first child of Edith Viola (Heath) and Doster Robert "Doc" De Haven Sr, born on June 20, 1931 in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended Central High School, and graduated from the UW-Madison in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. He served as a 1st Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1953 in the 512th Air Force Band in Oklahoma. In August of 1955, Doc met the love of his life, Shirley "Lea" (Wesenberg). Their marriage of 60 years began only a few months after their first date.
Doc's passions were music and family; and he excelled at both. His career in music spanned more than 4 decades, beginning with the creation of the Doc De Haven Combo in 1955. Performing Dixieland and Jazz standards Doc and his band consistently filled venues with their great music and adoring jazz fans at the Pirate Ship, the Union South and Memorial Union of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the Edgewater and Concourse Hotels, Country Clubs near and far, and countless Mid-west area jazz festivals. They produced multiple albums, and played for generations of weddings and receptions. Doc actively participated in the Madison area music scene by performing with other musicians and mentoring up-and-coming artists. He created the Doc De Haven Booking Agency that Lea managed as Secretary, Accountant, and President. He was a member of the Madison Municipal City Band and the Madison Jazz Society. He was honored in 1990 as the Isthmus Jazz Personality of the Year, named in 2001 by Madison Magazine as one of the Legends of Madison, and given a lifetime achievement in 2014 by MAMA (the Madison Area Music Awards).
Doc extended his legacy as a music educator. Doc taught music and band at Monona Grove High School for 32 years. His mentorship continued beyond high school as he taught private lessons for students entering state and national competitions many years after he retired from the academic world. He inspired new generations to love and pursue music in their lives.
To continue to support new talent, in 1981 Doc worked with the Erle Smith family to establish the Erle Smith-Doc De Haven Music Clinic Scholarship Fund to support Middle School and High School students attending this long-standing summer music camp at the UW Madison, and to honor his dear friend and band mate Erle Smith. In 2011, Doc and Lea established the 'Doc and Lea De Haven Music Excellence Award' at the UW Madison School of Music, to support undergraduate music performance majors, with preference given to those studying trumpet and/or jazz.
The passion Doc had for music was matched only by the love and joy he shared with his family. Doc loved his wife and children, adored his grandchildren and cherished his great-grandchildren. He fostered, mentored and inspired his children, nephews and grandchildren to create bands of their own from The Third Generation to A Touch of Class. Daughter Kelly and son-in-law David (Cooper) developed successful careers in the music industry, and grandson John De Haven is pursuing his own music career. Doc eagerly gave his grandchildren and great-grandchildren piano lessons, and cheered on all of their interests and activities. Doc was the last one to go to bed and the first one to rise, waking his kids each morning with a song and demonstrating his "latest jig" (which annoyed them to no end). They also remember his favorite quote on their family trips across country in a station wagon - a few minutes into each destination stop; "OK, the bus is leaving" ... Forever on the go, he would remind us that, "The Old Double D was the Coolest of the Cool." There was never a dull moment. Doc and Lea created a home filled with love, music, and mayhem.
Doc is survived by his wife; children: Brad (Julie), Kelly (David Cooper), Burt, Darcy (Rich Beld), Stacy (Rich Darrow), Nina (Jeff Gaby); grandchildren: Amber Ostrom, John De Haven, Spencer De Haven, Jacob De Haven, Kiley De Haven, Connor De Haven, Mattie De Haven, Skye Cooper, Austin Gaby, Zachary (Alyssa) Wallace, Justin Wallace, Rainey (Justin) Oliver, Bryan Wallace; great-grandchildren: Azure Shaw, Sienna Shaw, Jhett Jordan, Rylee Wallace, Madison Wallace, Missy Oliver; sisters: Joyce Pickarts and Ardith (John) Thomas; brother-in-law Ken Wesenberg; sister-in-law Joyce (Dale) Boness; Donna Lavick-Wesenberg; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son Stephen Craig Wallace from a previous marriage; brothers-in-law Ray (Joyce) Pickarts and Gary (Jean) Smith; sisters-in-law Jean Smith and Jan (Ken) Wesenberg; daughter-in-law Norma De Haven; and nephews Tony Wesenberg and Eric Thomas.
Visitation will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Road, Madison, WI from 2-5pm on Friday, August 19, 2016 with a musical service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored to have your support of a donation to The Doc and Lea De Haven Music Excellence Award, through the UW Foundation, Fund #12617236; the Erle Smith-Doc De Haven Music Clinic Scholarship, Fund #1262798; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; or to Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI. Please share your memories of "Doc."
Cress Funeral Home
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 238-3434
Tributes
"At a very early age Doc made his impression on me. He was a kind and talented man, and a great neighbor. It was an honor to have know him. - Brian Hoffmaster and family"
"Doc shared his talents with our family in many ways and we will always remember him. He gave Patrick and Paul trumpet lessons for many years. He was able to challenge them and keep lessons fun. We had his jazz combo play at our 50 th birthday party where he allowed Patrick to join in with the combo a few times. Lastly he did a fine job providing the music for our daughter's wedding dance in 2000. We are very grateful to have had him in our lives."
"I was one of the many who benefited from Doc's patience as a music teacher at Monona Grove. I was by no means a good musician . . . barely adequate to keep a place in the band . . . but that never discouraged Doc from giving his full support to my efforts. That's the quality of a really good teacher. Doc was someone who encouraged gifted players to flourish while helping kids like me feel we were still part of the band. Thanks Doc for being such a class act!"
"I started my music career at 13 at Nichols Elementary School on Monona Drive WI in 6th grade (Winnequah was not yet built), Doc was the instructor. He was my instructor from that point through my graduation from Monona Grove in 1968. I took private lessons through high school at Forbes Meyer music which was next door to the Pirate Ship at the time and my dad would wait for there until my lesson was over. I would go in the back door and go to the loft and sit behind the band until my dad was ready to go home; one of the best experiences of watching live music regularly from the behind the band. Doc and the band was always supportive and provided me some of the best memories of my early musical journey; Doc always provided direction and continues to be a major influence in my musical career. After almost 50 years since being introduced to Doc, I am still playing professionally and recall many moments of my time with his bands, his teachings and his influence. I was so sad to hear of his passing and send my best wishes to Doc on his new journey and to his family for the time they allowed him to share with me on my journey. God Bless to you all. By the way, great choice of pictures for the obituary."
"I was a student of Doc's, driving him absolutely bananas until he kicked me out of Jazz Ensemble my senior year at Monona Grove. I also played my junior prom in a band that Doc was good enough to include me in, with his son's Brad and Burt. We played all the jobs he couldn't because he was constantly booked. I remember one evening he came into a rehearsal and announced he wanted Kelly to join the band- still wish that had happened. I will always remember Doc at the Edgewater playing to a packed room and wish to this day I'd had a chance to thank him for the opportunities he gave me and to apologize for my cocky behavior during those years. Love you Doc, and my very best to you, his family."
"To the family of "Doc" Dehaven, I graduated from Monona Grove High School in 1964. Doc was the assistant band director at the time, while Jack Whitney was head director. I have so many wonderful memories of working with Doc at Monona Grove, but also of spending many evenings with my folks, who would smuggle me in under age, at the Pirate Ship to hear Doc's great jazz. I think the last time I saw Doc was while visiting Madison when I purchased some music at Ward Brodt Music on the Beltline. I am a professional musician and clarinetist, having spent 40 years teaching clarinet at Northern Michigan University and Kent State University. I've performed as a sub in over 20 concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra, and might be said to have a "name" in the clarinet world. Doc was an important part of my education and I'll never forget him, Sincerely, Dr. Dennis Nygren Professor Emeritus, Kent State Universirty "
"I will be forever grateful to Doc for giving me the opportunity to play in one of his local bands. I still play today, and hear him in my head yelling " lay it on the wall" before every solo..... my very best to the family. Doc will live on forever in all of us in the music."
"My late husband Armon Schroeder and I would occasionally have cocktail parties. John & Bonnie Beyler were in the cocktail party neighborhood group. I barely knew that John sometimes played with Doc, until one night, in the middle of one of our cocktail parties. John persuaded Doc and the rest of the band members into crashing our party. They marched up the steps to the main level of our house, with Doc in the lead on the trumpet, playing "When the Saints Go Marching In." Our guests went wild! Doc's band played a few numbers, and then mingled with the guests to have some drinks and food. It was the best cocktail party we ever had. Thanks, Doc, and the rest of the band members, for the fun time and great memory! My sympathy to Ardie and the rest of the family. --Renae Schroeder"
"I was very blessed and privileged to play piano in The DocDeHaven combo. Doc was a wonderful musician in many ways. His tone was marvelous. He was a great guy to play for, always humble and forgiving of mistakes. All of us who played In his band always had a lot of fun too. Many of my best memories from the 60s are playing In His band. Peace to a good friend and musician. Gene Herritz "
"Loved having the DeHaven's as neighbors, and still as friends. Doc was always so kind to us "kids" who visited, and my parents / aunts & uncles LOVED watching him perform...at the Elk's Club or wherever. Peace to a wonderful dad, husband, grandpa and musician! "