Doug was born in Alliance, Nebraska to parents of Greek, Scottish, and Swedish heritage. As a boy, Doug lived in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Nebraska. After completing high school in Grand Island, Nebraska, Doug entered Chadron State College, intending to go into pre-med. While he was in school, Doug became the editor of the college newspaper, fell in love with journalisim and changed his major. While in college, Doug also worked as a cabinet maker and woodworker for Good Karma Looms and published an underground "anti-establishment" newspaper called "Hard Scrabble Times." 

Doug married Peggy Mason in 1974 and the couple had a daughter, Melanie Beth, in 1976. After Doug and Peggy divorced, Doug moved back to Denver and took a job as a tow truck driver for AAA Colorado. 

AAA recognized Doug's journalistic talents and he was promoted to manager of Public Relations and special services in 1978. Doug hired Lisa in 1980 when she applied for a job as graphic designer and they began dating in 1983 when Doug left the Auto Club to take a job as Public Relations Coordinator for Vail Associates. After moving back to Denver in 1984, Doug worked as freelance travel columnist and traffic reporter for radio station KEZW in Denver. Between 1983 and 1986, Doug and Lisa were fortunate enough to travel the world together on various photo journalism assignments.

Doug and Lisa married in 1986 and moved to Washington D.C. in 1987 when Doug was offered the position of Managing Director of Communications for AAA National. Their daughter, Jessica Lynne, was born in September of 1989 and two months later, they moved to Orlando when AAA headquarters relocated. Their second daughter, Katherine Grace, was born in Winter Park, Florida in 1994. 

Doug left AAA in 1999 to take a position as New Publications Director for Hemming’s Motor News in Vermont, where the family lived for almost a year.

After living in Colorado for a short period of time, they moved back to Orlando in 2000. Between 2000 and 2004, Doug worked for Bonnier Corp., Black Dot Group and Global 5. He became editor-in-chief of Florida Association of Realtors in 2004 where he worked for ten years. 

Over the course of his publishing career, Doug won numerous writing and editing awards and served on the Florida Magazine Association Board of Directors. He also served on the Longwood City Charter, was president of the Sleepy Hollow Homeowner's Association for 7 years, served on the SAC committe at Lyman High School, and was band phtographer for the Lake Mary High School Marching Rams and the Lyman High School Marching Greyhounds. 

Doug enjoyed playing golf, snow skiing, loved cars, trains, going to Disney World, and most especially, spending time with his family. He was a warm, generous man with a wonderful smile and helpful nature. Doug touched literally thousands of lives throughout his life, from readers of his wonderfully well-thought out and informative magazines to the neighbors next door. He will be forever missed.