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University of Hawaii professor of Burmese and Thai, former Chair of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures, D. Haigh Roop passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022, at the Arcadia Health Care Center in Honolulu.Born March 1, 1932, in Washington D.C., Haigh received his B.A. from Harvard and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from Yale. Through a Fullbright-Hays Grant he conducted research in Thailand on the Lisu language, he completed his dissertation entitled "A Grammar of the Lisu Language" (1965-67). His early publications included "Beginning Burmese with William S. Cornyn" (1968), and "An Introduction to the Burmese Writing System" (1971), both Yale publications.
Prior to his Sino-Tibetan scholarship he served in Military Intelligence completing instruction in the Chinese Mandarin language at the Army Language School in Monterey (1956).
Together with Tom Gething, he assisted in developing the Thai Program. Additionally, he established the Burmese Program for the department, making it a language program of national and international prominence.
Haigh served as Chair of the faculty of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures for 11 years. Citing a colleague—" he was known as an active and intelligent leader, was well organized, efficient, sensitive to our diversity and always ready to fight for the needs of the department or an individual faculty member."
Because of his fluency in Burmese and Thai he was consulted by many seeking support for potential publications. He had close ties with Burmese both in Hawaii and Rangoon. In 1984, he arranged to sponsor and support a student from Rangoon seeking to study in the U.S.
In his leisure, Haigh pursued choral singing and opera. His love for music also involved serving as the editor for the Chamber Music Hawaii program for over 20 years. Haigh started with the University Chorus in 1971 with the Mozart Requiem. In 1974, he joined the Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) Chorus and since that year sang in at least one opera a year.
For years, Haigh wanted a comprimario role, a small singing role with the principals, and he had that chance as a prosecutor in "Andres Chenier" (1992). He studied under Neva Rego and Betty Grierson in their Bel Canto School of Singing and under their tutelage performed as a soloist in concerts and local churches. Beebe Freitas, former head of music for HOT, expressed her appreciation for Haigh's singing, commitment and dedication he provided in preparation for the opera season. Haigh's other performance highlights included "Amahl and the Night Visitors" (1979), and "Pilipinas Circa 1907" (1989). In 1997 he was awarded the Po'okela Award from The Hawaii State Theatre Council for "Excellence in Service."
Predeceased by his parents, James Clawson and Rebecca (Haigh) Roop, and brother, James C. Roop, Jr., Haigh is survived by sister-in-law, Elizabeth N. Roop; nieces, Cynthia (Roop) Walsh, Lee Anne (Roop) Webb; cousin, Mary H. Hutchins (recently dec.); several grandnieces and grandnephews; Ko Theikdi (sponsoree, and his wife, Maureen O'Brien); good friend, Ann Takahashi.
A future private ceremony will be held at the
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
