DANIEL PAYNE

1944 - 2023

PAYNE, Daniel Noted Boston Political Consultant Dan Payne Daniel B. Payne of Newton, Massachusetts, passed away, on May 9, 2023, from cancer. He was born on April 7, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Lincoln Park High School in 1962 and graduated from Wayne State University in 1966 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. In 1967, Dan married his wife, Nicole, in Detroit, Michigan. In 1970, Dan moved to Boston, Massachusetts to start a political consulting business later known as Marttila, Payne, Kiley & Thorne. Dan worked in political consulting as a Media Specialist from 1969 until his retirement in 2012. Among the candidates he represented are President Joe Biden, Senator John Kerry, Congressman Father Drinan, Congressman Barney Frank, Congressman Les AuCoin, Governor Angus King, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, Boston Mayor Kevin White and Governor and Presidential Nominee Michael Dukakis. Dan won several prestigious awards, including a Clio Award and several Hatch awards. Until 2022, Dan participated alongside longtime friend, Todd Domke in a weekly WBUR radio commentary known as "Morning Edition" with Bob Oakes. He also made numerous television and radio appearances discussing politicians and political issues of the time. Dan's personal endeavors included coaching his sons' teams, including basketball, baseball and occasionally offering his untrained and unsolicited opinion on how to improve his sons' performances on the soccer and rugby fields. After leaving Michigan, Dan continued following their teams, but also grew to love Boston sports. Dan was a dedicated fan of Boston's teams, even the Bruins, but only if they made the playoffs, including as a season ticket holder to the Boston Celtics during their multiple championships in the 1980s. In fact, Dan can even be seen center screen in the closing moments of the "Larry Bird, A Basketball Legend" documentary standing up from his seat in his royal blue vest. Dan was never too far from politics, and in recent years scratched that itch by intently following national issues by devouring daily the New York Times, the Boston Globe and even engaging via social media. He thought of himself as someone with a practical and logical approach to the issues of the day, and he certainly became disillusioned by the results of the 2016 presidential election. But his faith in humanity and our democracy was renewed after the 2020 election. Dan is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nicole. Dan and Nicole raised two sons in Newton, Massachusetts, and Nicole even talked him into begrudgingly traveling the world before and especially after their retirements, including visits to Morocco, Italy, France, Spain, England and the Bahamas. He is survived by brother, John (spouse Mary Sue); nieces, Stephanie and Laura (spouse Ben); sons, Adam (spouse Liz) and Jeremy (spouse Julie); and five grandchildren, Katie, Ashley, Emily, Finn and Amelie. Dan's grandchildren were his pride and joy. They enjoyed teasing him about his near constant companion, a can of Diet Coke.

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