I just saw this In December 2022! Doug and I were best friends in 1968. We worked together at Allen's Self Service Drugs in our senior year. Doug moved into my house when his parents moved away. He and I spent several months in my parents basement until fall of 1968 when he enrolled at Chadron State College. He And I took trip to Denver in 1968 and again in 1970. His brother Marcus was living there at that time. I got married in 1971 and asked Doug to be my best man, but he couldn't make it to G.I because he was a broke kid in college! Love this guy forever! We had some great times together!

Today would have been your 70th birthday. How time flies. I wish with all my heart that we could have celebrated this milestone together. But it was not to be. And though I miss you no less today than I did the day you left, life has carried me forward, as was your wish. I no longer pine away for days gone by, but instead look fondly back on the memories we made, and the life we shared. A wise lady once told me that we know we are living in the past when our emotions go back with us, but we are honoring the past when we can reminisce about the good times, smile, and continue moving forward. That is where I am today. You were a futurist, always dreaming of making a better tomorrow. When I would fret about the past, you would nudge me forward. You taught me how to live in the present, and dream of the future. I thank you for that. Happy Heavenly Birthday Doug!

Here's a link to the fight scene in Every Which Way but Loose. If you you look closely you will see Doug in the background. Hint: he has a mustache!

https://youtu.be/7T1mpYdJsVQ?feature=shared

Dear Dad,
Yesterday was five years. I couldn’t believe it. It feels more like three, or some days more like twenty. I’ll be honest: I dread each year I tack on without you. I dread the day I wake up and it HAS been twenty, or forty, or maybe even sixty. I can’t stand the thought. But, I once couldn’t stand the thought of one day without you. And here I am. So there I will go. I don’t truly believe you’re gone. Some days, I feel more confident than others about this concept. But I hold on to the idea of living eternally with you. I can only hope at this rate, that that will be my “heaven.”
For now, I live for mom and Jessica, and all else who adored you. There were so many.
In that mean time, I’ll feel you with me when I cook pancakes, and see a train, and see someone order hot coffee with a couple of ice cubes to cool it down.

I miss you. I love you.
Katherine

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 5 years since you passed. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday, and at other times it feels like an eternity. So much has happened since you drew your last breath, but I suspect that somehow, you already know. I have a sneaking suspicion that you have been keeping an eye on us, making sure your family is happy and safe, just as you did when you were alive. I have come to not only suspect this is true, but know it as fact. You have communicated with us through songs, messages, photos and many other creative ways that can not be attributed to chance. There is no doubt in my mind that you not only go on, but you are thriving in that beautiful place we all hope to one day call home. We miss you and love you more than words can ever express, and we look forward to the day, after we have each lived very long and productive lives, that we will see you again. In the meantime, keep those messages and “coincides” coming. And thank you for sending them :) xoxo

Yes. It is hard to believe Doug is gone...a good man and good leader, and, from what I know, a good husband and parent. Rest in peace Doug.

Can't believe he's been gone this long, we were cousin's only a year apart, and when we were real young I use to love it when my parents would drive us from where we lived in Massachusetts to where he lived in Massachusetts it was either Leverett or Shutesbury, anyway I remember we would play outside. There was alot of woods around. It was nice. Lots of family, a long time ago, makes me miss everyone that's gone. Makes me cry. I do miss you Doug

I was saddened by this news. I worked with Doug for 11 years on the AAA World and Car & Travel magazines as production manager. There were many sides to Doug, but I mostly remember him as a brilliant man, good leader, and motivator. I learned much about publishing from Doug, and have many fond memories of the things we accomplished at AAA.

Doug was a big Lincoln fan and living in Springfield, I see Lincoln things everywhere. I park a block from Lincoln's house. So, it isn't unusual for me to think about Doug and wish I could take him around town. I always had the greatest times with him and he was always very kind to me. I enjoyed the photos and they really bring back memories! Thank you for creating this web site. Knowing there is a place I can go to remember this great guy is a real comfort.

"Congratulations on completing another trip around the sun," Doug would often say whenever someone celebrated a birthday. He didn't quite make it to his 65th birthday, but I don't doubt for a minute that he somehow completed his trip. Happy Heavenly Birthday, my love.

I worked with Doug Damerst at AAA 20+ years ago. He was a mentor, a friend and the reason I left AAA to become Publisher for Tow Times magazine. As he told me, better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond. I have never forgotten his wisdom. Thank you Doug.