David Paul Finley
November 16, 1957-September 23, 2011
Left: David Finley. Right: Patricia Mulvaney and David Finley. Photos courtesy Red Bank Public Library.
Born in New York City, David was a talented lighting and set designer who worked with the Martha Graham Dance Company and was a member of the United Scenic Artist Union. His first experience in the figure skating world was as the lighting director for Brian Boitano and Katarina Witt's Skating tour. He went on to do lighting for Stars On Ice and countless Disson Skating productions. In 2002, he received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his work on the "Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular". The last production he worked on was "Fashion On Ice" in 2011. He passed away on September 22, 2011 at the age of fifty-three.
Photo courtesy Todd Randall
David's obituary from "Lighting And Sound America: "The lighting designer David Paul Finley, of New York City and Margaretville, New York, passed away on September 22 in Chicago, Illinois. He was 53. He had a long career as lighting designer with Martha Graham Dance Company (1986-1992), Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Stars on Ice, and 15 years with Disson Skating. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination for 'Outstanding Lighting Direction (2001-2002)' for his work on the Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular. Finley began his company, David Finley Associates, with his business partner in the 1990s, where they specialized in lighting and set design and production in the area of television, theatrical, and live commercial events. Finley is predeceased by his father Alan W. Finley. He is survived by his loving partner, Gary Young; his mother, Kathryn Scott Finley; his sister, M. Alicia Finley; his sister, Kitt Finley-Parker, her husband Tim, and their children Kate and Riley; his brothers, Alan Finley; Scott Finley, and his partner John Schulman; and Mark Finley, and his partner Jeff Edelstein; his long-time business partner Todd Randall; and a large extended family. He graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1977 and SUNY School of Performing Arts, Purchase, New York in 1984, where he majored in lighting design and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. He worked with Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) Dining by Design for the past five years."
Lea Ann Miller, Todd Randall and David Finley. Photo courtesy Michael Hall.
Memories of David from Lea Ann Miller: "When I met David I was a young choreographer trying to find my way - often insecure, and unsure of my ideas. David not only supported and believed in me, we worked together to prove we could do anything if we worked hard enough and just tried. David gave me the courage to always push boundaries. He applauded an idea, dissolving my fears and insecurities with each year we worked together. He became a partner... sometimes in crime, but mostly of a beautiful relationship. Did you know that Gary and David 'art directed our wedding'? Staying up all night hanging star lanterns that ended up in more than one skating show I believe. Of course I could tell you about all the great work David did. He created beautiful shows, about how professional he was, and the long, lonely hours he put into his work, except when Mikki was by his side, but you all know that. What I want to say is, to me, the theme of his life was: Knowing David just made us better human beings. He influenced careers and motivated creative minds... I'm sure he never intentionally did this, he was passing on what he learned from the right people. He believed in the 'high road', not that he didn't have a mischievous side! He could look at you with that grin and expression that said volumes, but never with a negative word. He didn't like when we took bets on reskates, or made jokes on the radio. He saved me from many 'open mic' regrets. He believed in 'what comes around...' David, you have left this world a better place for so many of us, I know in my heart you can rest in peace."
*Source for inclusion: Obituaries, The Daily Star, September 28, 2011
