CHICAGO — David Paul Finley, of New York City and Margaretville, NY died Sept. 22. 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 for 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. His last lighting design production, Fashion on Ice, airs Nov. 13, 2011 on NBC.
Finley launched David Finley Associates in the 1990s, specializing in lighting, set design and production for TV, theatrical and live commercial events. He worked with Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) “Dining by Design” for the past five years. His longtime business partner is Todd Randall.
Finley is survived by his partner, Gary Young; his mother, Kathryn Scott Finley; sisters M. Alicia Finley and Kitt Finley-Parker and brothers Alan, Scott and Mark Finley. He is pre-deceased by his father, Alan W. Finley.
Funeral services are being handled by Miller’s Funeral Home, Margaretville, NY. In lieu of flowers; donations in Finley’s memory can be made to the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, PO Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753, or on the web at www.heartofthecatskills.org.
