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Doug was truly the best friend that one could have. The three of us met during our sophomore year at Paly and were close buddies from the outset. Whereas we (Bob and Eddie) had just arrived in Palo Alto from West LA (and were already friends from Junior High), Doug had recently moved to Northern California from Pittsburg. We were initially drawn together because, as sophomores, the three of us were outsiders at Paly, but the bonds that we built became so strong over time that our friendship lasted until the day Doug died, on October 6, after a long and heroic fight against bone cancer. The three of us (with wives) last got together this past April. Doug was in the midst of exhausting stem cell treatment, but he seemed as cheerful, witty and conversational as ever. At Paly, in addition to seeing one another on school days, in class and on the athletic fields, we would get together every weekend to engage in almost every sport imaginable. One of our favorites was a decathlon that we ourselves created, with events that gave each of us chance to beat the other two in something. In the evenings we often got together to play board games (especially Risk), along with other Paly pals such as Larry Kromer and Bill Kremlin. Doug, of course, was both a good student (especially in math and science) and a fine athlete. Indeed, perhaps surprisingly to some, he was one of the most decorated athletes in our school class. As a junior he won the SPAL championship in the 1330 run. As a senior, he was SPAL champion in both cross-country and the mile run. The grit and determination that made Doug a great distance runner characterized his entire life. He went to college at UC Davis, where he majored in engineering, ran competitive cross county and was a devoted member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. In his spare time, he lifted weights and quickly changed from the slender kid we knew in high school into a surprisingly muscular fellow. After graduating, Doug courageously volunteered to become a Marine pilot and flew A4 jets in Viet Nam. Upon completing his stint in the armed forces, he found a job as a pilot for a little company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Doug lived in Memphis for many years, where he and his wife had two children (a son and a daughter) and where he rose to senior pilot status, flying big jets (usually DC10s) to places all over the US. The little company, meanwhile, grew rapidly and soon had a brand that most everyone recognizes today – FedEx. Doug was always proud that he was one of the first pilots ever hired by the company, and, appropriately, he was buried in his FedEx uniform. Doug had his first bout with cancer in 2003 and retired from FedEx shortly thereafter. By that time, he was living with his lovely second wife, LuJean (nicknamed LJ), in the Heber Valley, near Salt Lake City, where he skied, played golf and bicycled on a regular bases, before, during (yes, during), and after the 2003 cancer scare. He owned his own plane for a while and also became a skilled saxophonist, playing in several local dance bands. We are enclosing a photo taken while visiting him in 2016. Two of his loves, flying airplanes and playing in the band, are on display in the picture, as the harness that Doug is wearing was designed for holding his saxophone. We will miss Doug greatly and will forever cherish the closing line of the last e-mail letter he sent to both of us shortly before his death. It reads: “Thanks for being my pals all these years. Luv ya both”.
Eddie Hayes and Bob Verhine – Class of 1963
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Ole Prahm
Doug was truly the best friend that one could have. The three of us met during our sophomore year at Paly and were close buddies from the outset. Whereas we (Bob and Eddie) had just arrived in Palo Alto from West LA (and were already friends from Junior High), Doug had recently moved to Northern California from Pittsburg. We were initially drawn together because, as sophomores, the three of us were outsiders at Paly, but the bonds that we built became so strong over time that our friendship lasted until the day Doug died, on October 6, after a long and heroic fight against bone cancer. The three of us (with wives) last got together this past April. Doug was in the midst of exhausting stem cell treatment, but he seemed as cheerful, witty and conversational as ever. At Paly, in addition to seeing one another on school days, in class and on the athletic fields, we would get together every weekend to engage in almost every sport imaginable. One of our favorites was a decathlon that we ourselves created, with events that gave each of us chance to beat the other two in something. In the evenings we often got together to play board games (especially Risk), along with other Paly pals such as Larry Kromer and Bill Kremlin. Doug, of course, was both a good student (especially in math and science) and a fine athlete. Indeed, perhaps surprisingly to some, he was one of the most decorated athletes in our school class. As a junior he won the SPAL championship in the 1330 run. As a senior, he was SPAL champion in both cross-country and the mile run. The grit and determination that made Doug a great distance runner characterized his entire life. He went to college at UC Davis, where he majored in engineering, ran competitive cross county and was a devoted member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. In his spare time, he lifted weights and quickly changed from the slender kid we knew in high school into a surprisingly muscular fellow. After graduating, Doug courageously volunteered to become a Marine pilot and flew A4 jets in Viet Nam. Upon completing his stint in the armed forces, he found a job as a pilot for a little company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Doug lived in Memphis for many years, where he and his wife had two children (a son and a daughter) and where he rose to senior pilot status, flying big jets (usually DC10s) to places all over the US. The little company, meanwhile, grew rapidly and soon had a brand that most everyone recognizes today – FedEx. Doug was always proud that he was one of the first pilots ever hired by the company, and, appropriately, he was buried in his FedEx uniform. Doug had his first bout with cancer in 2003 and retired from FedEx shortly thereafter. By that time, he was living with his lovely second wife, LuJean (nicknamed LJ), in the Heber Valley, near Salt Lake City, where he skied, played golf and bicycled on a regular bases, before, during (yes, during), and after the 2003 cancer scare. He owned his own plane for a while and also became a skilled saxophonist, playing in several local dance bands. We are enclosing a photo taken while visiting him in 2016. Two of his loves, flying airplanes and playing in the band, are on display in the picture, as the harness that Doug is wearing was designed for holding his saxophone. We will miss Doug greatly and will forever cherish the closing line of the last e-mail letter he sent to both of us shortly before his death. It reads: “Thanks for being my pals all these years. Luv ya both”.
Eddie Hayes and Bob Verhine – Class of 1963
Stephen Levy
So sorry to hear this news about Doug. I fondly remember spending almost all of my high school afternoons running or socializing with Doug at cross country or track practices or meets. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite keep up with him or provide him with much competition.
Steve Levy