RYE, NH - Douglas B. Downey, of Rye, New Hampshire died January 20, 2017 of pancreatic cancer in hospice surrounded by friends and family. Born December 24, 1950 in Belhaven, North Carolina, he was the sole proprietor of Paladin Import Repair, but the arts were his true calling. Known as "The Dancing Mechanic," he walked into his first ballet class when a Taekwondo class for which he was registered in the same building was canceled. ["Ballet - It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it."] This launched a lifelong passion for dance, and a long association with the Portsmouth School of Ballet. After many performances of "The Nutcracker" as "Cavalier," he aged into the Uncle Drosselmeyer role ("Oh the years can be cruel when our steps aren't so true..."Lyrics, Douglas Downey) and danced his last performance in December of 2016 despite being ill. He related that he "didn't think any of the little kids were disappointed." While he dismissed his own dancing skills ("Tell them that my feet didn't really point") his partners and colleagues spoke only of his wonderful mentorship of younger dancers, his musicality, trust and acting and dancing abilities. He stored his theatrical make-up in a fishing tackle box. Exposed to the world of Bluegrass during his youth in Tennessee, his childhood stage debut saw him carried on-stage in a gunny sack, emerging picking the 5-string banjo. An accomplished and talented picker, guitar player, singer and songwriter, he performed and recorded with the Pine Hill Ramblers for a decade-plus, writing songs such as "Two Chairs for Ray and Alice" - the piece which brought them their first standing ovation ("The bluegrass keeps on playing, like it has for oh so long, and folks like Ray and Alice keep the spirit going strong. "Music and Lyrics, Douglas Downey). His banjo piece "Roadkill on the Highway of Love" was featured on Car Talk. He was a naturalist by academic interest (Marine Biology, UNH) and as an avid photographer; he loved to tell a story and make others laugh. Doug was preceded in death by his mother Jean G. Downey and brother-in-law Noel Rainville. He is survived by George Downey and Neil Downey his father and brother of Groton MA; his brother Gregg, sister-in-law Joyce and nieces Leah and Kala of Clarksville, TN; sister Ellen Rainville of Westford, MA and sister Marsha and brother-in-law Rob Lyons of Littleton, MA. Donations in memory of Doug may be made to the Portsmouth School of Ballet and the Boston Bluegrass Union. Celebration of Life memorial service will be held in the Spring at First Parish Groton, MA. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill, MA. For online guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com