Douglas Cook Barker

Doug was born in Detroit, Michigan to David Sherwood and Mary (Cook) Barker on September 26, 1943. He attended Cass Tech High School in Detroit – where he starred as the King in the school’s production, “The King and I.” During high school he worked for and achieved the highest Boy Scout honor of Eagle Scout. After high school, he attended the University of Denver for his freshman year, then transferred to Michigan State University to complete his college career. He was a proud and active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and he graduated in 1965 with a BA in Mass Communications.

Doug worked his entire career in television – starting at TeleRep in Detroit and Chicago, then moving his young family to Miami, Florida in 1975 to take a job as the National Sales Manager for WTVJ-TV. In 1987, he joined in a partnership to purchase and run WWSB-TV in Sarasota, Florida. Doug’s passion for broadcasting also led him to serve a term as Chairman of the Florida Association of Broadcasters in 1989. After many years at WWSB, Doug relocated to West Palm Beach to assume the job of president at Paxson Communications, known today as ION Media. In 2009, he and Linda DesMarais, formed LDB Media and purchased SNN-TV in Sarasota. He worked and lived in Sarasota until he retired in 2017.

In 2018, he moved to Atlanta to be closer to his daughter and granddaughter – and was thrilled to be able to attend his granddaughter’s theatrical performances (a reminder of his days on the stage) and cheer on the Braves in SunTrust Park with his daughter. He loved playing golf, and watching/attending sporting events (especially baseball and college football – Go State!). He was a voracious reader and would often wake up before everyone to read a few pages of his latest book before starting his day. He enjoyed a good glass of wine, cracked up when watching the Three Stooges, and never met a Barry Manilow song he didn’t like.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Doug is preceded in death by his beloved parents, David Sherwood Barker and Mary (Cook) Barker.

Doug is survived by his two children, Lori (Barker) Blackburn of Atlanta, GA and Douglas Cook Barker, Jr. and his wife, Erin McElroy Barker of Fanwood, NJ; his 3 grandchildren: Connor, Sydney, Kieran; his partner of over 20 years, Linda DesMarais; and the mother of his children, Sandra (Stock) Barker.

Memorial services will be held on October 19, 2019 at 10:00am at Otey Parish in Sewanee, Tennessee, a place the entire family grew to know and love.

In lieu of flowers to the family, please send donations to the Flower Guild at Otey Parish. Doug often put flowers on the altar in memory of his mother and father, and we would like for those altar flowers to continue and to honor him as well.

Otey Memorial Parish

PO Box 267

216 University Avenue

Sewanee, TN 37375

Attn: Barker Memorial

Doug’s family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to Dr. Luke Brewster and his cardiovascular team for all their efforts. And a special thanks to the ICU team at Emory University Hospital who made our time there a little more pleasant with their kindness, care, and compassion.