Douglas Wayne Winans

Remembering and Loving Doug The world lost Douglas Wayne Winans, one of its most compassionate, gentle souls on August 13, 2014. Doug, who never missed an opportunity to share his wit, suddenly passed away after a lifetime filled with love, laughter, challenges, and more laughter. Doug was a big, strong man who exuded kindness and found great joy in making the people around him happy. He maintained a positive attitude through any challenges placed before him, creating an aura of contentment that put everyone at ease. Doug was known for his integrity and desire to put others needs before his own. He was a caring and patient man who always had good things to say. He had a passion for learning, especially regarding technology and science. He loved taking time to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature along the California coast. Music was of high importance to Doug and although he no longer played the drums, you could regularly find him tapping beats as he listened. Fun for Doug was seeking out independent coffee roasters, local microbrews, and creating a mean salsa. A near obsession for Doug was coffee. He extensively researched the history and methods, as well as obtained just the right equipment, in order to create the perfect cup of coffee. Doug was born on March 9, 1955 in Elmhurst, Illinois. His family moved to Covina, California, when he was five. He was a kind and supportive brother whose sense of humor would often involve good natured teasing, much to the chagrin of his younger sisters. As a child he enjoyed building models, his newspaper delivery route, and learning to play the drums. He graduated from South Hills High School, in West Covina, where he spent time perfecting his jump shot on the junior varsity and varsity basketball teams. In his spare time Doug and his neighborhood friends formed a rock band. For the next several years he played drums in bands that performed at parties, weddings, and school dances. He truly enjoyed those performances and would often reflect on the memories of those creative days of his youth. Doug met his wife, best friend, and biggest fan, Sue Greene Winans, during their senior year in high school. Four years later they were married. Doug and Sue were devoted to each other and rarely spent time apart. They enjoyed camping, especially with family, but more than anything they just enjoyed spending time together. Whether it was cooking together, crashing on the couch in front of the television, or grading papers at a coffee house, they loved being together. The couple raised two awesome children, Dave (Brandy), Carmel; and Andie (Scott) Meenzhuber, Nipomo; who were the pride and joy of his life. Doug was a committed father, who tirelessly gave of his time and supported his children as they grew. He enjoyed coaching his sons baseball and basketball teams, faithfully attended dance recitals and high school pageantry competitions for his daughter, his Sweet Baboo, and enthusiastically attended high school basketball games and track meets. Doug volunteered to be on the first board when Chino Hills Little League began. He served as the first Equipment Manager and then later assumed the role of President. As the children grew he continued to provide his wisdom and advice (especially on home improvement projects), as well as support through enjoyable conversations. He always looked forward to opportunities to spend time with his grown children and extended family on vacations, making it a priority to attend special occasions and events for his four grandchildren, Braden, Chloe, Hannah, and Taylor. For most of his working life, Doug worked in sales and sales management for industrial equipment companies. Feeling dissatisfied with his career path, Doug made the decision to join his wife in the teaching profession which started him on a long journey to become a teacher in his fifties. Attending college as a mature student, Doug impressed his professors with his enthusiasm for learning and desire to absorb knowledge. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science in Natural Science, graduating Cum Laude in 2007, from California State University Los Angeles and then went on to obtain his teaching credential from California State University Monterey Bay. He taught Earth Science to high school students for the next six years, beginning his career at Alisal High School in Salinas and most recently teaching at Ayala High School in Chino Hills. Doug was always a natural teacher. While he may not have been in a traditional classroom he always made a point of sharing information. Once in a classroom Doug actively sought to create lessons in ways that would best benefit his students. He made a point to research and then relate to students fascinating back stories about scientists and principles of science as a way of increasing student engagement. He adeptly utilized technology and thoroughly enjoyed seeking out ways to employ that technology in his lessons. We all have bad days from time to time, but not Doug. He came home nightly to share about how well an experiment or lesson went that day, his positive experiences, and thoughts for future lessons to enhance educational experiences for students, never focusing on the negative aspects of challenges. Weekend adventures for Doug and Sue often revolved around exploring lesson ideas, technology related to teaching, and visiting places that supported his love of nature to support his teaching. Always the teacher, Dougs driving conversations included pointing out such things as geologic features of landforms, cloud formations, or stars in the night sky and then providing extensive details or unique facts. He took great pleasure in identifying and observing wild birds. With his new career finally in place, Doug felt satisfied in reaching his goal. After a thirteen year journey that included working full time and going to school part time, two years of living in Monterey while Sue lived in Southern California, and working at four schools in six years, it appeared that Doug could relax and enjoy life. Doug was happy. Doug will also be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his parents, siblings, and their families: mother Marcella and step-father George Clemmer; father Dwight Winans and step-mother Darolyn; mother-in-law Mae Ellingboe; sister Cathy Winans and her husband Bill Shaddle; sister Nancy and her husband Dan Quinto; and sister Cindy and her husband Steve Johnson; many special nieces and nephews; and treasured friends. Family and friends will celebrate a life well-lived, surrounded by the nature Doug so appreciated, at Santiago Oaks Regional Park on Friday, September 26, at 10:00 a.m. Donations (known as Tributes on the website) in Dougs name can be made to the Point Lobos Foundation. http://www.pointlobos.org/foundation/support-point-lobos/make-donation. Please join us in celebrating Doug by posting your remembrances of him on this page.