Severin Roijen Haines

Severin Haines, 77, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, died peacefully the morning of June 30, 2023 after a long illness. He leaves behind his wife of 54 years Cynthia (Axtell), his daughter Liv Haines Gauthier and her husband Mark, his daughter Hannah Haines and husband Ethan Bungert, grandsons Obed and Henry Bungert, siblings Arne Haines and his wife Sherlyn, Audrey Schroeder and husband Brian, Anne Jorgensen and husband John, and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Skudeneshavn, Norway, a son of the late Ragnvald and Liv Haines, Sig immigrated to the United States with his parents and brother at the age of six. Sig showed exceptional artistic talent at an early age and began taking classes at New Bedford’s Swain School of Design when he was still in grade school. He enrolled at Swain as an undergraduate, earning a BFA in 1968, and went on to earn a MFA at Yale University’s School of Art and Architecture in 1972. From 1975 until 1988, he taught as a member of the faculty of the Swain School and served as chairman of the painting department. He began teaching at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with the merger of the Swain School and the University in 1988. He later served as graduate director for the University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, retiring as an emeritus professor in 2011 after thirty-five years in the classroom.

Known as a colorist and purist landscape painter, the work of Severin Haines was widely exhibited in numerous one-person and group shows in both museums and galleries in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Seattle, WA, Stavanger, Norway, Pennsylvania, Martha’s Vineyard, and locally at the New Bedford Art Museum, Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Water Street Gallery, and Gallery X among many other venues. Sig also painted large public murals in New Bedford and Fairhaven and curated six exhibitions for the New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks. His work is part of the permanent collections of the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Millicent Library in Fairhaven.

Sig played guitar and mandolin and sang as part of the local bluegrass band “TLC” for nearly 40 years.

He was a devoted husband, beloved father, influential artist, animated teacher, trusted advisor, mentor, and good friend to many in the community. He will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be Friday, July 7, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington Street, Fairhaven. A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Place, Fairhaven. Burial will be private. For online tribute/directions: www.waring-sullivan.com.