DOUGLAS CHARLES LITTLEJOHN LIBRETTI, 50, of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada passed away on Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 after an automobile accident. He was surrounded by 2 of his adoptive sisters and thirteen members of his biological family. 

Doug was born February 19, 1968 in Emerson, Manitoba, Canada to Wallace and Esther Littlejohn of the Ojibwe Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation. He was adopted in 1975 by Gennaro and Mary Libretti of Madison, NJ. He grew up cherished, and deeply loved by his parents and 8 siblings. Doug excelled in school and sports, especially diving. 

He graduated with BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s University in 1992. He settled in Manorville, NY with his partner Sam Calsacola and enjoyed cooking, community gardening, and time with friends and family. In 2007, Doug pursued cooking as a career. He began as a prep cook with Sodexo Inc. at Western Connecticut State University before becoming Catering Lead and then Second Cook for Horizon North Camps and Catering in Alberta, Canada. His work ethic became well-known and he was lauded as the Top Aboriginal Worker at Horizon North in January 2018. He loved the new people he met every rotation, and learning about their lives and backgrounds. It was perfect for Doug—cooking and sharing great food and great stories and using his gift for making people laugh, full-on-face-hurts-belly laughter. His professional goal was to work at the Horizon North mining camp in the Arctic. After significant training and certifications, he arrived for his first rotation at the Mary Mine in Nuvaska, Canadian Arctic on November 22nd. He had just returned home the morning of the accident. It is a solace to know that he experienced the culmination of all his efforts and the satisfaction of attaining his goal before he passed. 

Doug loved to people watch and was a great story teller, with a gift for making people laugh. He would set goals and tenaciously work to achieve them. He wanted to read more and experience more—so he did. He was an avid and eclectic reader, poring over authors from Benjamin Franklin to Chief Shingwaukonse. He was an amateur photographer, bead-jewelry crafter, and nature walker. He never did get to run with the bulls, but he rode a mechanical one. He even took up diving again—sky diving that is. He was quirky, loved the inane, took chances, and took joy in simple pleasures. He believed people were more important than things and will be remembered for his caring, gentle soul. His generosity in life followed him death—as an organ donor, he saved the lives of 5 people in need. 

Doug is survived by the Libretti and Littlejohn families who loved him immensely: his devoted mother and father, Mary and Gennaro Libretti of Naples, FL; his 7 sisters: Anna Clark (Craig) of Scotch Plains, Maria Duffy (Mike) of Little Silver, Gina Glancy (Joe) of Westchester, PA, Lisa Montgomery (Tracey) of Bonita Springs, FL, Donna Cooke (Bob) of East Hanover, Andrea Libretti (Ed) of Florham Park, and Nina Petitt (Ted) of Chatham; sister-in-law Ann Libretti (Michael) of Chatham; and 16 nieces and nephews; his 4 biological sisters: Marlene D. Henry, Jo Anne Littlejohn, Marina Littlejohn, and Theresa Rivet; and 2 brothers Michael Littlejohn and Gene Night Thunder; and nieces and nephews too numerous to count. Doug is predeceased by his brother Michael Libretti; his partner Sam Calsacola, his biological parents Wallace and Esther Littlejohn, sisters Rose Goodwin, Doris Antoine, and brothers Wesley, Aurthur, and Ernest Littlejohn. 

After a 4-day Ojibwe spiritual ceremony, Doug received his native name—Neegaanaga Wabik—which means ‘he who stands in front’ and was buried near his biological parents. Mary and Gennaro Libretti said “He was separated from them as a child, it is only right that he returns to them now.” A Celebration of Life Mass will be held for Doug at 10am, Saturday, February 2, 2019 at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, New Jersey.  

Doug believed that stories keep the world revolving—live your story,don’t miss out.