Beth-Anne Blue and David Haase moved to Durham from Florida in 2019, and David’s parents, Ron and Jan, followed in 2023. With this incredibly talented and creative household, it is hard to tell where vocations end and avocations begin. 

 A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Beth-Anne Blue is assistant director of the Duke Personal Assistance Service… by day. She is also an accomplished professional writer. Her play Do You See Me? was produced in Gainesville, Florida. “It’s about a friendship between two women and the secrets we are willing to take to the grave - after one of them turns up dead. It is one of my favorite stories.” She also wrote, produced, and directed a film in 2008 titled When No One is Watching, adapted from her novella Narrow Strip of Light. The film premiered at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville.

 Beth-Anne’s most recent screenplay, Supposed to Be, has won multiple awards on the film festival circuit, including Best Original Screenplay. “This one was a project for my MFA work in screenwriting. While the degree was not completed, the script was a hit! It’s about a woman who takes her own life and must sort some things out in the afterlife with the help of an unlikely healer.”

Beth-Anne self-published two books, Face of an Angel and StandUp8. “StandUp8 comes from the saying ‘fall seven times and stand up eight’, meaning if you stand up one more time than you fall, you’ll be ok. This one is no longer available because part of it is in my newest book, Pearls and Purse Straps (in press 2024).”

 David and Ron are architects. Their award-winning design studio, HAASE DESIGN in Melrose, Florida, specializes in contemporary, custom homes with an Old South aesthetic. (www. haasedesignstudio.com). David is also developing a Carolina specific studio. They completed a home in Edenton this year, overlooking the Swan Bay. Ron is Professor Emeritus with the School of Architecture at University of Florida, Gainesville where he taught design and historic preservation. He authored two books, Classic Cracker: Florida’s  Wood Frame Vernacular and The Last House: A Love Story About Architecture and Place. The latter is a novel that revisits the vernacular architecture of Florida and includes Ron’s pen and ink drawings. 

A fiber artist, Jan focused on woven tapestries. Over the years, she and Ron collaborated on projects with Jan interpreting Ron’s art into weavings. David studied music at Louisiana State University (LSU) where he was on the marching band drumline before transferring to the University of Kansas to study architecture. He continues the legacy of Haase Design from his home office and keeps his creative side revved, as well. An exceptional drummer, David’s band Southpaw Soul performs classic, new and alt-rock music locally. 

You can find them on Instagram: southpaw_ soul and on FaceBook: Southpaw Soul, for upcoming events. 

The Haase household sidelines creative talents long enough to cheer for their favorite sports teams. Beth-Anne, a life-long, die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan, knew David was the “right” man for her when he visited her home in Gainesville to watch an Ohio State football game with her on television. “The Florida Gators play a significant role in the Blue-Haase home, but we are not a ‘divided house.’ The Haases graciously support the Buckeyes and indulge my game-day antics, right down to the food we eat.”

 They follow the big five tennis tournaments: Cincinnati, The French Open, The U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and The Australian Open. They keep up with major golf tournaments, especially the Memorial Tournament that takes place in the same area that Beth-Anne’s family lives. And David is a Formula One racing fan. Mixed in with all the work, recreation, and creative talents, there is Harlowe, Beth-Anne and David’s Standard poodle. She is a guard dog, co-pilot, snuggle buddy, and office mate. Find out more about her in this month’s Pet Spotlight!