David Breen
Webster, NH – David Breen, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle,
cousin, teacher, musician, and friend, passed away peacefully on
September 11, 2025, after living with cancer with grace, mindfulness,
and courage. He was 66.
David’s life was one of many layers, woven with creativity,
compassion, and a search for truth. He was an entrepreneur whose
ventures reflected both hard work and artistry – from commercial
cleaning to owning a flower shop, to founding and operating his own
yoga studio. Each path carried his signature mix of humor, compassion,
and trustworthiness.
Music was one of David’s deepest passions. He played many styles of
music and created original works. He was inspired by Todd Rundgren,
who he once met, not only for his artistry but for the fact that he
wrote, recorded, and played all the instruments imself. In a beautiful
sign from the universe, David and Laurie attended a Rundgren concert
in Boston on their very first date. Since retiring in 2020, David
embraced that same model of creativity by writing, arranging, playing,
and performing music in his own right.
In 2007, David founded Sharing Yoga, which grew into a thriving
community and trained more than 200 teachers. His classes and
teachings were grounded in both yoga philosophy and more recently in
Therav?da Buddhist wisdom. He taught that presence was enough, that
every breath is both a beginning and an end, and that life’s
impermanence is not something to fear but to embrace. He extended this
practice far beyond the studio, volunteering to teach yoga at the New
Hampshire State Prison and the Payson Center for Cancer Care, offering
dignity, compassion, and healing in places where it was most needed.
David’s devotion to the path of mindfulness shaped not only his
practice but his way of being. Whether meditating on impermanence,
traveling across the world, or sitting in stillness at home in
Webster, he embodied the teaching: “This is the only moment we truly
have.”
He was a man of humor and quick wit, of generosity both quiet and
bold. He gave freely to charities, mentored countless students and
friends, and was a cherished companion to many.
He was endlessly curious – a traveler, explorer, writer – whose
presence made every space feel larger, lighter, and more alive.
Above all, David’s truest devotion was to his wife, Laurie. Together,
they built a partnership of profound love, mutual respect, and shared
vision. Their marriage was a living practice – steady, compassionate,
and filled with joy.
David’s life was a testament to the truth found in both yoga and
Buddhism: that while all things are impermanent, love is not. His
legacy will continue to ripple outward – through music, through his
students, through his friendships, and through the lives of all who
were fortunate enough to know him.
David is survived by his wife, Laurie Farmer; mother, Barbara
Swansburg; siblings, Susan Nardone (Jeff), Bill Breen (Hazel), Carol
Young (Mark). He also leaves behind father and mother-in-law, Frank
and Barbara Farmer; brothers-in-law, Tim Farmer (Megan) and Tom
Farmer; former sister-in-law Darla Williams, Lydia Breen, nephews and
nieces, and many close friends. He was preceded in death by his
father, Paul Breen.
To honor David’s generosity and selflessness, please consider a
donation to the Community Learning Center, a school in Thailand which
David and Laurie have supported. https://gofund.me/24077c555
A celebration of life is being planned for a later date.