Douglas 'Doug' Doubleday

Obituary Douglas 'Doug' Doubleday, 78, of Beaufort passed away Sunday January 29, 2023. Doug went out for his final walk on Sunday 29th January 2023. Whilst out enjoying the bright sunshine on the Neusiok trail with Ann and the Carteret County Wildlife Club, he suffered a fatal heart attack. Doug was born June 17, 1944, in Gloversville, an unexpected but much-loved addition to the Doubleday family and a younger brother to Larry. He grew up in Cobleskill and later in Dolgeville in the Adirondacks and attended Dolgeville High School and Bangor High School, PA. He started his community service early and was awarded the "For God and Country" award by the Boy Scouts in 1960. Doug loved science and in his high school biography outlined plans to be either an engineer or a rocket scientist. He ended up going to Pennsylvania State University to study electrical engineering. After graduating in June 1965, Doug joined IBM. Not long after, he was called up and enrolled with the US Air Force in 1966 and was stationed in Sherman, Texas. He spent 2 years with the Air Force working as an electrical engineer before re-joining IBM in Endicott, NY where he spent much of his career. He was honourably discharged at the rank of sergeant from the US Air Force in 1971, after 2 years of active service and 2 years as a reserve. He married his high school sweetheart, Pamela DeLuca in 1966 and they were blessed with two children, Debbie and Brian. Pamela sadly passed away in 1983 and Brian in 1991. In addition to his day job, Doug volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Vestal NY Emergency Squad and combined this with his experience as a SCUBA diver to assist with rescues. He was also President of his local SCUBA club and dived in Lake Ontario, St Lawrence River and the Adirondack and Finger Lake areas. Whilst working on a project for IBM in 1984 at Hursley Park, Winchester, England, Doug met the final love of his life, Ann, in the Tudor Rose pub in Romsey, Hampshire. They maintained a long-distance relationship for several years until Ann was finally persuaded to join him in the USA in the summer of 1990. Doug and Ann were married in Binghamton, NY in December 1990, by their good friend Gary Kuhns with sons Brian and John in attendance. Doug and Ann both enjoyed sailing and their first boat was named "Tudor Rose". They spent many happy hours sailing her on Seneca Lake and were active with the Finger Lakes Yacht Club in Watkins Glen. Doug took the opportunity to take early retirement in 1996, and whilst waiting for Ann to retire too, he spent the interim time working for the Colman and Daniels Funeral Home in Vestal to help his dear friend, Larry Harvey. When Ann, also retired in 1998 they took the opportunity to set sail and travel on their new boat "Seaborn" and explore the East Coast waterways. They stopped in at Beaufort. NC on their travels and liked the place so much that they kept returning and settled there permanently in December 2001. Initially they were "Live Aboards" before buying a small townhouse in Beaufort. Doug quickly became a well-known face around Beaufort. He worked at the docks, pumping gas for the many boats that came in. He later worked at Scuttlebutts, combining his love of books with work. He became involved in many aspects of Beaufort life from helping with the organisation of the Pepsi-America Sail in 2006, the Bridge Committee, Chairman of the town Planning Board, volunteering with the Friends of Beaufort Maritime Museum, appearing as "Mr Leffers" for the Beaufort Historic Society, acting as a tour guide at Fort Macon State Park, involved in the Beaufort Pirate invasion, organised the annual Train Show in memory of his good friend, Dr John Costlow, became President of the Beaufort Lions Club, featured in a movie for his great pal Sinbad and his final passion project was with a sub-committee of the Sierra Club to make Beaufort "Plastic Free by the Sea". Although Doug and Ann gave up their sailing boat, this did not stop their love of travel and in recent years they upgraded to larger boats and spent their time cruising on the Cunard flagships from crossing the Atlantic, to the Baltic Sea, to the Caribbean islands, to the Arctic Circle as they ticked off destinations from their bucket list. They also spent time travelling to visit their children, grand-children and great grandchildren in Georgia and England as well as visiting friends around the US. Doug took his role as international Chair of the Lions Club very seriously visiting many different Lions Clubs around the world on his travels. When not busy with his many projects, Doug could be found taking a walk around Beaufort or in the coffee shop, the wine bar or the Back Street Pub catching up with the many good friends he had made in Beaufort. He was always ready with a hug for those who needed it. Doug was predeceased by his mother, father, first wife Pamela and son, Brian. He is survived by his loving wife Ann, daughter Debbie and stepchildren Samantha, David and John, 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, brother Larry and his wife Judy and their children Chris and Katey and their families. He will be sadly missed by many family members and good friends, too numerous to mention individually. A celebration of life will be held at 1pm on April 7th at the Gallants Channel Annex of the NC Maritime Museum, located at West Beaufort Road Ext. We hope that you will come together to remember this great man. In the meantime, please do share your memories of Doug either on his Facebook page or by email to Ann. If you would like to honor Doug, please consider volunteering your time and reduce your use of single use plastic in whatever way you can. In lieu of flowers donations can be made Services Celebration of Life Friday April 7, 2023 1:00 PM NC Maritime Museum Gallants Channel Annex 293 West Beaufort Rd Beaufort, NC 28516