Darin was born in Elwood, Indiana in 1964. Darin Jolliffe (pronounced, “Jah-liff”) was adopted by his step-father in 1984, and added the name “Haas” (pronounced, “Hahz”) to his birth name. However, as a teacher he is known just as “Mr. Haas.”

Darin began his teaching career in 1984, and continues to teach today from his home studio in Kettering, Ohio.  His company, DLJH Musical Enterprises, boasts a number of job descriptions which fit nicely with all his many interests in the performing arts:

• Teacher (voice, piano, saxophone, student leadership)
• Playwright/Composer
• Musical Theatre Director
• Columnist (writing about being a single dad, older child  adoption)
• Clinician/Adjudicator (marching bands, show choirs, theatre)

Darin’s current students are some of the finest musicians and performers in The Miami Valley of Ohio.  Most of the high school students are section leaders and soloists in their music ensembles, and most of the musical theatre students are always the leads in their school and community productions.  His former students continue to blaze paths in the performing arts and music education:

• over thirty are in Broadway and/or professional productions throughout the United States and Europe
• several perform with opera companies
• several serve as conductors or administrators for performing arts organizations
• over twenty are band or choral directors for schools
• many more:
  • conduct church choirs, community choirs or bands
  • direct professional, college, high school or community theatre
  • are involved in music while having full time careers in the non-performing arts

Darin & Zach Pollock

While keeping up his very fun career in the performing arts, Darin, 48, loves spending as much time with his son as possible.  This also means getting involved with band boosters, and other organizations with which his sons are involved.  Darin also works with the Beavercreek High School show choir, and volunteers with ACTION Adoption Services where he often teaches classes, and served as president of the board for three years.

Darin was trained in musical theatre directing by the legendary, Joshua Logan. In 2009, he directed his 85th musical production – SOUTH PACIFIC. This was a great honor as it was the 60th anniversary of the original premiere of SOUTH PACIFIC which had been co-written and originally directed by Joshua Logan.  Darin is currently completing the writing of a musical on the Wright Brothers, the Lincolns, Father Flanagan, and has several projects on the back burner.

Music is always alive in the Haasienda!

Darin’s 3 loves…

• Being a dad
• Being an uncle
• Being a teacher

Darin enjoys a wide variety of activities, especially when he and the boys are doing things together. They love going to historical sites, out for ice cream/coffee, to movies or local events, cheering family friends on in shows or sports, walking the dogs, hiking, going to Kings Island or Indiana Beach amusement parks, or spending time with family, and family friends. Darin can be found watching a Netflix documentary or History Channel documentary, or reading books on American history, presidents, the White House, or biographies.

Jose, now 21, was adopted in 2004 from Oregon when he was twelve years old, and adjusted wonderfully to adopted-life.  He graduated from Fairmont High School in June 2011. Two weeks later he was transported to Fort Benning in Georgia to fulfill the 18 weeks of basic training with the national guard. The biggest thrill for Jose during high school was marching with the award winning Marching Firebirds where he was in the front-line percussion as a marimba player. He also performed with the regionally award winning Fairmont Percussion Ensemble.

While in high school, Jose willingly accompanied his dad to ACTION Adoption to assist with the younger children while their parents are in training or support group, and often joined his father when training prospective adoptive parents.

While still serving in the National Guard, and attending classes at the local Sinclair Community College, Jose is also finishing up his training with the Ohio Police Academy.  Jose lives in his own apartment near The Haasienda.

Quintin, now 17, arrived at the Haasienda in December 2010 when he was 15, and quickly transitioned from New Mexico to Ohio.  Within a month of arriving in Ohio, Quintin auditioned on guitar, and was selected for a youth band in one of Dayton’s largest churches. His budding personality and quiet coolness quickly wins over hearts of teachers, friends, and anyone he meets.  Quintin is Navajo Indian, and was lived on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico before moving to Albuquerque when he was nine years old.

May 2011, Quintin joined the marching band’s percussion section where he is a part of the battery on cymbals.  From November to mid-April (2012), Quintin rehearsed, and performed with Fairmont’s highly competitive indoor percussion which was ranked Mid-West champions, and ranked 12^th in the nation. He loves school, and is thoroughly enjoying his sophomore year with all the music and digital art opportunities that are available.  Quintin cannot wait until May when marching band percussion rehearsals resume.  He also looks forward to spending several weeks with Grandma, Uncle Destin & Aunt Stacia and their four children in Indiana before marching band kicks in to full gear.

Quintin has many interests, and keeps busy with:

• doing things with friends
• playing guitar
• writing music
• playing piano
• skateboarding (Rob Dyrdek is from our town and donated a huge skate park which is ranked nationally)
• going to movies
• playing XBox
• going to plays & concerts
• riding roller coasters and zip lining
• old and new muscle cars
• spending time with family in Indiana

Flyer, 11 years old, was adopted by Darin in 2001, and has been an absolute delight. She is trained to respond to commands in English, German, and Sign Language. Flyer loves spending time with “the men” and especially loves going on trips to visit Grandma, and other family members in Indiana. August 2010 Flyer developed pancreatitis and nearly died; however, despite losing her sight, she rebounded beautifully. 

Chief & Navi, born November 2010, arrived at the Haasienda in February 2011. They quickly became household fixtures, and are quite popular with all Darin’s students. They have done a great job with their commands, even learning some of their commands in German and instructional sign language.  They love going on the family walks in the evening, and spend most of their time relaxing on the back deck, chasing one another around the back yard, or staying near Dad. Now fully grown, “the kids” are much larger, much more playful, much more trained, and still, much more a hand-full!

GRANDMA

If any woman deserves Mother or Grandma of the Year, it would be this woman. Darin’s birth father left the family when Darin was 12. His mother did a wonderful job of raising her children as a single parent, and served as a wonderful role model as a parent. In 1981, Grandma joined the Elwood Police Department while still managing a busy home filled with children, and their many friends. In February 2012, Grandma retired from the police department, and moved to Fowler, Indiana to live near Darin’s younger brother, Destin, and his family. Although her children are raised, they often turn to her for advice, and she is highly involved in all the grandchildren’s activities. Grandma frequently travels to Ohio to watch Quintin’s (and formerly, Jose’s) marching band contests, or Darin’s theatre and music activities. The success of her two sons, and now their children, is easily traced to Grandma.

Darin’s brother & sister-in-law

Uncle Destin is Darin’s younger brother, and is married to Aunt Stacia. Uncle Destin, formerly a social studies teacher and principal, is currently the superintendent of schools for Benton-Central Schools. In 2010 and 2011, Uncle Destin was one of Indiana’s 2010 Principals Of The Year. Destin is currently completing his doctorate in education while remaining extremely active with his family. Aunt Stacia, an educational therapist, is currently a stay-at-home mom, and keeps busy with their sons, Parker, 7, and Freddie, 5, and Carolyne, 2. January 30th, the family welcomed the fourth Haas baby, Jude.  Uncle Destin & Aunt Stacia are very involved with their school corporation, their community, and their church. They live on a beautiful farm that has been in Aunt Stacia’s family for over a century. It comes complete with barns, a pond, tractors, and a landscape dotted with wind turbines. Due to the very similar family values, and ideas on parenting, Destin & Stacia also are on our family Godparent Team.

Being in the Jolliffe-Haas family means…

• you are very loved, accepted, and special…
• being part of a tight-knit family team that thrives on time spent together in a variety of activities…
• cheering one another in their events…
• being honest with one another, and ourselves…
• celebrating one another’s victories while being sensitive to one another’s moments of need…
• laughing – a lot…
• picking up after our selves, taking responsibility, and doing our best…
• learning about family, friendships, and most importantly, our selves…
• learning about the world around us and how we each fit in as individuals, and as a family team, and as a community…
• learning to be the very best we can be as individuals…
• most importantly – always knowing we are all loved.

…About the Godparent Team…

Uncle Destin & Aunt Stacia Haas

Each summer, Uncle Destin and Aunt Stacia invite the boys to spend time with them, and their children on their farm near Fowler, Indiana. Aunt Stacia’s cousins operate the farm which is complete with every young boy’s desire – woods, a pond, lots of room to play baseball, football and soccer, and each of the sons learn to drive under Uncle Destin’s mentoring. It is an especially nice visit now that Grandma lives in Fowler.

Tony & Angela Bane

Tony and Angela Bane first met Darin when their two oldest children, Jacob and Ellie, began studying piano with Darin.  Ellie and Jacob were even lead roles in Darin’s production of SOUTH PACIFIC in 2009.  Tony left the business world and is pursuing the next chapter of his career in education.  He also stays busy coaching baseball and attending the children’s swim meets during the summer.  Angela has taught elementary school in the Kettering district for fifteen years.  In 2010, the Bane family welcomed Noah into the family.  The Bane children get to see Uncle Darin each week when they head to piano and saxophone lessons.

Mike & Diane Bowers

Mike & Diane Bowers live in Beavercreek Ohio.  Mike retired from the Air Force in 2011 after 30 years of service.  Diane is a Speech Language Pathologist working in the school system for Greene County.  Mike volunteers with the middle school show choir where their son Brandon has been performing for the last three years.  Brandon studies voice and piano with Darin. They have two grown children, Justin (a personal trainer) living in Greenville SC, and Crystal (a housewife and new mom) living in Las Vegas.  Diane and Mike love to travel and have been fortunate to have experienced many cultures from all over the world.

Steve & Shawnee Breitenstein

Steve & Shawnee Breitenstein, and their two children, Lauren and Patrick, live in nearby Beavercreek, Ohio.  Shawnee, a former band director, is now a full-time band mom, and Steve, in the aerospace defense industry, volunteer many hours to the high school band program, and middle school band and show choir program. The Breitensteins are very active in their community, schools and church.  Their daughter, Lauren, is a flutist in band, and their son, Patrick, a student of Darin’s, is a singer/dancer in show choir, and a saxophonist.

Tom & Heather Bridgman

Tom and Heather, like the other godparent team members are busy as a band and show choir family. Their daughter is in Beavercreek HS’s show choir and symphonic band, and their son is in the middle school show choir. Tom is an electrical engineer with SIAC, a defense contractor, and Heather is an assistive technology consultant for the Ohio Center for Autisim & Low Incidence.  They are an active family in school and church.  Their daughter, Mia, a student of Darin’s in voice, is in show choir and band as a euphonium player, and their son, Tommy, plays percussion in the band and participates in show choir.

Jeffrey Carter

Darin met Jeff in 2004 when he returned to Ball State University for the Ball State Singers’ 40th anniversary performance when Jeff was the director of the Ball State University Singers and Associate Director of the entire music department.   Jeff now lives in St. Louis, MO, where he is the Chair of the Department of Music at Webster University, and a nationally-renowned conductor, adjudicator and now, a published composer. Jeff is a talented cook, voracious reader, and a busy world traveler, and very much a dog-lover.

John & Kelly Eveleth

John and Kelly Eveleth live in Beavercreek, Ohio. John manages a local branch for a nationwide lending company. Kelly works part-time at a rheumatology practice. They love attending their children’s various events and volunteer for many organizations throughout the year. Their son, Matt, is a junior in high school. He plays trombone for his high school’s marching band, jazz band, and show choir combo. He also plays the piano and guitar and has been taking voice lessons from Darin. If his schedule allows, Matt enjoys playing on a recreational soccer league in the spring. Their daughter, Allison, studies saxophone with Darin and plays in her middle school’s jazz band and show choir combo. She also enjoys dance and volleyball.

Suzanne Grote

Suzanne Grote is a music teacher in Beavercreek City Schools where she also taught middle school Spanish & French.  Suzanne has lived in nearby Yellow Springs, Ohio, her entire life.  She keeps busy playing organ for church, working on summer musical productions, attending shows in Dayton, Cincinnati & New York City, volunteering for Muse Machine, and enjoying her lead role as “Auntie” for Erin and Jack. Darin met Suzanne in 2009 when they were teamed together to direct and music direct a high school production, and they instantly became best friends. At least one or two weekend nights a month, the Haas family joins Suzanne for dinner and/or a theatre event, and are often joined by her niece, Erin, and their mutual family friend, Aaron Jacobs, also a God Parent Team member.

Bill & Kay Hetzer

Darin has been dear friends with the Hetzers since 1996.  In 2000 and 2001, Bill and Kay adopted two sons, Joey & Chris, through ACTION Adoption Services. The Haas and Hetzer boys grew up together, and always had the common bond of adoption journeys. Bill is retired from the United States Army, and is a teacher. Kay, very involved in music, is also a teacher. They are also very proud grandparents!

Aaron Jacobs

Aaron Jacobs is an outstanding band director and music educator, a musical theatre conductor, and was director of bands at a local middle school for three years.  He also studied voice with Darin.  Both Jose & Quintin look forward to seeing Aaron at lessons, or at the numerous music events.  In the fall you can usually find Aaron playing and marching with the alumni band with The Ohio State Marching Band. September 2012, Aaron returned full time to Wright State University to begin his graduate studies, and serve as a conductor.

Patti King

Darin met Patti when he began teaching her son, Greg, voice and piano.  Her youngest daughter, Kristen, was in marching band with Jose, and the Haas and Kings got to know one another even more.  Patti, a trained theater thespian, has kept busy raising three daughters and one son – now all adults – and working as a youth director for several churches.  Patti is one of the most incredible ladies, and is a guiding spirit for strength, perseverance, and laughter.

Lea Loree

Darin and Lea have known one another for several years as marching band parents.  Her eldest son, Michael, now a sophomore at Bowling Greene State University in Northwestern Ohio, was best friends with Jose, and a familiar fixture at The Haasienda.  Lea’s youngest son, Alex, will be a freshman in high school next fall, and will be a member of the marching band with Quintin.  Alex and Lea are also the wonderful folks who look after Flyer, Navi and Chief when the Haas family is busy.  Lea is an educational therapist.  She and her husband, and Alex, live around the corner from The Haasienda.

 Brian & Joanie Pollock 

Joanie & Brian Pollock have lived all over the United States, even Alaska, as an Air Force family.  Now, they live in Beavercreek, Ohio. Brian’s career still keeps him at the base, and Joanie is a social worker for Catholic Social Services and Hospice, as well as a substitute teacher. Their eldest son, Tyler, is a senior soccer star at Butler University currently student teaching in math and science; Zach, a former student of Darin’s, and now in college, was one of the Miami Valley’s strongest teen performers. Brian and Joanie are very active in their sons’ collegiate careers, church, school activities, and do a number of activities together with our family.

Pati & Mike Rogers

Pati and Mike Rogers are very active band parents with two teenagers in the band program.  Mike is a brilliant mechanic and has a knack for figuring out anything and everything on the computer, and volunteers MANY weekends driving the marching band’s semi-trailer throughout the fall marching season, and during the winter for indoor percussion contests.  Pati works in the medical field, and owns and operates her own photography studio.  Throughout the year she volunteers her time photographing marching band and winter music events.   Mike & Pati have two adult sons, and are the very proud grandparents of beautiful little Cassidy. The Rogers are a fun family, and, like many of the other god parents, have ‘adopted’ Quintin as one of theirs.  Their son Nick plays saxophone, and is a student of Darin’s, and their daughter will join the high school ranks this fall as a flute player.

Tony & Susan Saliba

Darin has known the Saliba family for many years having served as a teacher and director for two of their three children.  Tony is the dean of engineering at The University of Dayton, and Susan is the program director for The University of Dayton’s Research Institute in Engineering.  One son is a senior in college, one a senior in high school, and their daughter is a freshman in high school. Show choir and church activities keeps this family quite busy. Their eldest son, Joey, a former voice and theatre student of Darin’s, is a senior at The University of Dayton, and will marry this June. Justin, a high school soccer star, will play for The University of Dayton this fall.  Alaina, a voice student of Darin’s, is in show choir and musical theatre.

~ A.C.T.I.O.N Adoption Services~

Patricia Hill (director)       Mary Tarlano       Angela Brosh

For twelve years, the angels from ACTION Adoption Services have been a part of the Jolliffe-Haas family. While helping many individual families build their own families, ACTION is a family unit, itself.  Our family has been blessed by the staff at ACTION, as well as many of the families who’ve been a part of the agency through the years.

  ACTION’s Website:  http://www.actionadoption.org

…Our Special Family Friends…

While training prospective parents in pre-adoption classes at ACTION Adoption, Darin met a wonderful couple, Ann & Bill Impson.  He was immediately drawn to this family, and they became friends and began doing things socially.  Before long, The Impsons were matched with a sibling group of four!  Four years later Arthur, Rick, Monica and Destiny are thriving  in their new home, and demonstrating success in academics, football, baseball, band, choir, after school jobs, and so many other areas.  Each January, the Haas family joins the Impson family at Spaghetti Warehouse to celebrate the anniversary of the children’s adoption finalization.  The Haas family adores, and is blessed to know the Impson family.

…Some of Our Family Activities…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Watch our family video…

Darin’s Columns for Publication…

• Centerville High School senior Anna Leeper trades in her ruby slippers for bigger shoes
• Butler’s Coleman Hemsath marks his 30th production with Singin’ In The Rain
• Wayne High School senior Tray Shelton shines in Moon Over Buffalo
• Fairmont grad Phil Drennen launches new writing career following Altar Boyz tour
• Jack Gallagher lights the way
• Ready, Set, Hike!
• Underwear
• Mousetrap