HAVILAND, DALE ARMOND, age 86, passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti. Born on September 11, 1929 in Pontiac to D.A. and Jessie (Prosser) Haviland. Dale was the youngest of 3 brothers (Harold and Gerald). He graduated valedictorian from Hartland High School in 1947 and later received a B.A. degree from Michigan State University.
Dale served in the United States Army during the Korean War. In 1957 he married his beloved wife of 57 years Nancy (Newberry) Haviland who passed away in January of 2013. In his early years he worked for General Motors and Bendix Corporations, but is best known as the owner/operator of Haviland Printing and Graphics, which he founded in 1973 and retired from in 2013.
He was also active in network marketing for NuSkin International. Dale pursued many interests including gardening, reading, nutrition, philosophy, and always cheering for the Detroit Lions. He will be remembered as a charming, generous, humor-filled, positive and patient man.
Dale strongly participated in the early movement of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, preceding the rise of the Libertarian Party, to which he belonged. He considered himself a lifelong advocate and practitioner of Objectivism, yet was a freethinker who challenged any unquestioned orthodoxy. Mr. Haviland published a monthly newsletter A is A, in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, which was a premier publication for the activities of Objectivist and Libertarian groups throughout the country. He was a member of the Detroit Society of Students of Objectivism.
He is survived by his two daughters, Dauna (Jeffrey) Borchardt of Howell, Pamela (David Norkus) Haviland of Sterling Heights; his grandchildren Ariel (Anthony) Cholag, and Nicholas Borchardt; his great-grandson Anthony Alexander Cholag; and his brother Gerald (Shirley) Haviland of Caryville, Florida.
To celebrate his life, a memorial gathering will be held on January 9, 2016 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. at Chemung Hills Golf and Country Club, 3125 Golf Club Road, Howell Michigan.
Comments:
Brian Wright (This was the notice I sent to those who might know Dale)
Talk about thinning of the leading edge, I couldn’t think of anyone else in my circles who may have known Dale or of him. Attached is an obit that I’ve augmented to include the Libertarian-Objectivist info. And I’ll probably publish as a guest column on my Coffee Coaster site. Dale was a major force in my life at the time I was becoming active in the Michigan Young Republicans, then the Wayne State Students of Objectivism, and the groundwork for the LP of Michigan.
Please share with whomever you know that may still be around. James, I’m thinking Alan Harris, the Gornbeins, … Did Harry Veryser know Dale? Harry is on Facebook, I think. I know a bunch who did, but I don’t have contact with them anymore. Or they died, or they moved away, etc.
I also did sign up with him for a while in the IDN/NuSkin business 20 years ago. More than that, he became to me just this warm, benevolent presence with a marvelous sense of humor, and joie de vivre. He attended the most recent Libertarian Party of Michigan convention in Kalamazoo with me last summer. [Note: does anyone know Stanley Lieberman, or, Pam, did you know Stanley and has he been contacted? Stan was, I believe, in Dale’s upline with NuSkin (and a good friend and major player in the Detroit Society for Students of Objectivism.]
James, or anyone, please give me whatever other specific info you have or make comments. I’ll be going to the ceremony, and anyone is welcome to ride with me if they can make it to my Novi digs at say 11:30-12:00 a.m. on the 9th.
Here’s the uploaded file: http://brianrwright.com/Haviland.doc.
Patrick Heller:
I was blessed to know Dale during college. I subscribed to A is A in the early 1970s. Dale then came to speak, I believe in the fall of 1972, to one of the first meetings of the newly formed Ann Arbor Libertarian League (which Jim Hudler started, with my assistance). Dale’s presentation was warm and so reasonable, a presentation style to which I still aspire. When I went to college, I was already of the mind set passed on from my government employee parents that the government was mostly incompetent at delivering goods and services. The timing of my meeting Dale as I was becoming pro-liberty instead of just anti-government really helped me in my philosophical journey.
After I came to Liberty Coins, I think I had him do one printing job for us, but the distance between Howell and Lansing made a continuing business relationship impractical.
I am heading to work in Florida in a little bit, but I might be able to attend the ceremony Saturday. Thanks for passing along the news of Dale’s death.
Kay Augustin:
Really sorry that I cannot attend.
I think of Dale often even now even though we have not physically met for years, just an occasional Facebook handshake. He was indeed kind, gentle, intelligent and forward thinking, exuding quiet enthusiasm.
I remember going to Howell numerous times when he was publishing a book. Later, I had him design personalized stationery for my sister as a birthday present. He always listened and then would thoughtfully guide his customers toward a solution offering the best outcome.
He and his wife were excellent hosts. Her collection of elephants and stories about her career in local government reminded me that Libertarianism is not just ideas but the art of enjoying everyday life with its trinkets and day-to-day interactions.
We often discussed psychology as well as economics and politics. When we met at a restaurant off I-94 in Novi, we would be there until the staff chased us out. When he was with Amway he offered not only excellent products and an opportunity for income but their philosophy which aimed at enhancing one’s potential.
When faced with obstacles, you could ask “What would Dale do?” knowing that the answer would lack histrionics and be elegant. No shouting, putdowns, just a light along the path toward a better way.
Emily Salvette:
Thanks for starting this thread, Brian. I first met Dale during the Metro-Detroit Libertarians days (late 1980s), and we would have contact every so often about one Libertarian thing or another. He was a wonderful, helpful person. Recently, he was in touch about placing his substantial and important liberty-oriented papers with the Bentley Library at the University of Michigan. I will miss him.
Keith Edwards:
I met Dale way back in the mid 60s when I ran Branden’s Basic Principles of Objectivism series. I don’t remember how many series he attended because NBI imploded in ’68. I saw him at several LPM conventions and at a few other events. He did the A is A newsletter as I recall. I may still have copy somewhere. I hate it when a contemporary dies and so many have in the last 5 years. I guess I still feel closest to the remaining NBI students. Some have told me recently that they share my feelings after all this time. Pete McAlpine attended one of our informal Macomb LP meetings a few months ago.
Rose Wright:
Thanks for this notice, Brian.
These remembrances by both his early and later compatriots are lovely tributes to Dale. I didn’t meet him until the 1980 LPM convention; he was a class act from the getgo, with the rare ability to calmly convey his convictions / reactions without ever raising his voice or his temperature. He was also a terrific role model — positive, principled, encouraging. Dale was more than just respected by his liberty-based milieu; he was deeply and genuinely liked. Such a sad loss. My sincerest sympathies to his family and friends.
Bentley Collection
Dale’s papers on the general liberty movement of his time he had gathered and placed in the Bentley Collection at the University of Michigan.
Correspondence and collected periodicals of Dale Haviland, resident of Brighton, Michigan. Haviland edited a libertarian newsletter A is A and other titles.
I have uploaded the index file for Dale’s considerable collection to my site here:
http://brianrwright.com/Haviland_Bentley.pdf.
I’ll keep his information current here: http://brianrwright.com/Haviland.doc.
