Donald M. Douglass

Captain Donald Montgomery Douglass, age 91, of Moorestown, New Jersey died peacefully on August 4, 2024 at his home at The Evergreens surrounded by his loving family. Born in Camden, NJ on September 12, 1932, Donald was the youngest child of Almira Conwell Long and Captain Donald Montgomery Douglass Sr. of Collingswood, NJ. Donald graduated from Collingswood High School in 1951 where he excelled in football and track. He was inducted into the Collingswood Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Donald continued to enjoy close ties with Collingswood friends throughout his life, and served as President of the Collingswood Old Grads Club for ten years. Donald followed the path of his father and grandfather and became an apprentice river pilot in 1951. In 1955, at the conclusion of his apprenticeship, Donald became a river pilot for the Pilots’ Association for the Bay and River Delaware. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest state pilot organizations in the nation. On the Delaware River, and on rivers all over the world, international ships need highly trained local pilots to navigate waters unfamiliar to visiting captains. Delaware Bay and River pilots are experienced mariners responsible for the safe navigation of commercial vessels on the Delaware Bay and River and surrounding waterways. Donald married Joan Wiercinski in 1963 and they purchased a house in Haddon Township, NJ later that year. Their lovely twin daughters, Carla and Brenda, were born in 1965. In the early 1970’s, Donald and Joan built a house in Avalon, NJ where the family spent over forty happy summers. Donald was an avid fisherman and boater, and spent much of his time in the summer fishing in Cape May off of his Mako and Grady White motor boats. During these years, Donald and his family greatly enjoyed the company of two successive Labrador retrievers both named Missy. Donald retired in 1995 and moved with Joan to The Evergreens in 2014, where they reconnected with Collingswood friends, and made many new friends with fellow residents and Evergreens’ employees. Remaining to cherish Donald’s memory are Joan, his wife of 61 years; daughter Carla Douglass Vastine and husband Cole Vastine of Wayne, PA; daughter Brenda Douglass Barrows and her husband John Barrows of West Hartford, CT; and beloved grandchildren Taylor Vastine of Pennsylvania Furnace, PA; Collin Vastine of Wayne, PA; Andrea Barrows of Philadelphia, PA; and Matthew Barrows of West Hartford, CT. Donald was predeceased by sister Virginia Douglass Glaser and brother George Schellenger Douglass. Throughout his life, Donald cared about and showed his respect to each person with whom he interacted. He had a lively sense of humor and an ability to turn on the charm until the very end. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 30th at 11 a.m. at the Chapel at The Evergreens, located at 309 Bridgeboro Road in Moorestown, NJ. A reception at The Evergreens will be held immediately following the service. Interment at the Cold Spring Cemetery in Cape May, NJ will be private and held at later date. Memorial donations in Donald’s name may be directed to the Collingswood High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Donations can be mailed to Collingswood High School Athletic Hall of Fame, P. O. Box 512, Collingswood, NJ 08108 or made through the website at http://www.collingswoodathletichalloffame.org/

Donald M. Douglass

September 12, 1932 - August 4, 2024