Dr. James J. DeHaven of Buffalo passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2017 with his family by his side at Buffalo General Medical Center. He was 69.

Born in Philadelphia he was he was the beloved son of the late James J. and Rita D. (nee Mastropietro) DeHaven and brother of the late Rosemarie DeHaven.  

Jim will be fondly missed by his many friends, colleagues, students and alum from D’Youville College. Dr. DeHaven graduated high school from St. Joe’s Prep in 1965 in Philadelphia, PA. He then earned his bachelors and doctoral degrees from Boston College and then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University in the laboratory of Richard Zare, winner of a Nobel Laureate Signature Award. Although research was very exciting to him, Jim sought a small liberal arts school where he could make a larger impact and spend a majority of his time teaching. At D’Youville, Jim will be remembered for his love of teaching, learning, reading, music and his innovative spirit bringing new technologies to the classroom, department and the school. He served on every major committee and won almost every award the school offers, including the school wide D’Youville Quality and several faculty of the year awards. He designed and taught many courses in physics, computer science, chemistry, robotics, and enjoyed engaging high school students in science. Though his own ambitions, his own servers and networks, he brought email and distance learning to the campus in the early 1990’s. He continued these efforts as he designed the technology in the gross anatomy laboratory and the physics, chemistry and biology laboratories in the school's new Science Arts and Education building, leaving them well equipped far into the future. During his last job self-evaluation, he stated “If I leave anything in this world, it will be the lives of the students I have helped (and I hope) influenced for the better. For this reason, my proudest accomplishment is the role that I have played in assisting our students realize their dreams.” Jim should rest peacefully, as he successfully helped many realize their dreams.

Jim is surived by his sisters Ellen McLoone (Peter) and Mary DeHaven; his nieces and nephews, Christopher McLoone (Jennifer), Susan Murray (Tom), Tara Gibble (Ben), Timothy McLoone (Michael), Megan Cahill, and Siobhan Cahill; his great nieces and nephews, Owen, Sean and Ian McLoone, Thomas Murray, and Morgan and Sadie Gibble as well as countless colleagues, relatives and friends.  

All are invited to his memorial service on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the D’Youville College Madonna Lounge, 334 Porter Ave., Buffalo, NY 14201 followed by a reception until 4:00 PM. His interment will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the D’Youville College, Dr. James DeHaven Scholarship fund, 320 Porter Ave., Buffalo, NY 14201 which has been established in his honor to continue his mission to help students in realizing their dreams.