Douglas Allan Mead

Doug was born in Royal Oak, Michigan to James and Donna Mead, attending Royal Oak Dondero High School. He always said that, because he started out as one of the smallest boys at school, he had to be scrappy, and he ultimately became a good high school athlete, particularly enjoying basketball. He went on to the University of Michigan where he studied Forestry, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, before ultimately earning his PhD in Resource Planning at the University of Missouri in 1981. In 1966, he married Judy (Haroutunian), with whom he enjoyed a long, full life and had three children: Larissa (Jon) Mead-Wescott, of Lions Bay, BC; David (Diane) Mead, of Westminster, CO; and Jennifer (Matt) Schuett, of Coquitlam, BC. Doug also leaves behind eight adored grandchildren (Keaton, Elena, Taylor, Brandon, Molly, Aidan, Justin, and Rachael), and his brothers, Steve (Leslie) and John. He was pre-deceased by his parents and his beloved sister, Carole.

Doug started his career in 1965 in the US Forest Service, working in the wilds of Wisconsin and Minnesota. In 1969, he started as an Assistant Professor of Forestry at Penn State University, moving out of the woods and into academia. Five years later, Doug brought his young family to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he moved up to Associate Professor in the renowned Forestry program at Lakehead University. After a brief foray to Missouri to finalize his doctoral degree, Doug launched the industry phase of his career in 1981, applying for a position as an environmental scientist with Shell Canada in Calgary, Alberta. When “the other guy” was first offered the job, Doug let Shell know they were making a mistake in passing him up – and his confidence was rewarded with a job offer and a long and satisfying career in the oil patch. He retired from Shell in 2002 as Senior Environmental Scientist, having served on numerous committees, task forces, and research projects related to oil and natural gas development across Canada. He provided advice on environmental planning on all of Shell’s major projects, participated in public consultation, reviewed and managed numerous environmental research programs and acted as a liaison with government agencies, landowners, First Nations, and environmental groups. He was most proud of being chairman of the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy Steering Committee for five years, considering it the capstone to his career. He continued his work on a contract basis as Mead Environmental Services until 2007, when he retired for good. In 2016, he and Judy moved from their long-time home in Calgary to Langley, BC, nearer to Larissa and Jennie.

Doug’s many interests and passions led for a full life. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and his family was raised mostly on game meat from his many successful outings, many with his good friend, Al Fedkenheuer. He was passionate about gardening, especially flowers and shrubbery, and, until the very last days of his life, one of his favorite places was in the yard, with pruning clippers in his hands. He was very physically active, playing basketball, softball, tennis and golf all his life, often out-hustling guys decades younger than him! He coached Jennie’s winning basketball and softball teams for many years. True to his Mead genes, Doug was a card player and he was the one to beat in any game of euchre, cribbage, or horseshoes, as any one of the attendees at the annual Cousins’ Party on St. Martin’s Point in Hessel, Michigan, could attest to. Poker nights and bridge clubs were on rotation for years. He traveled the world with Judy on a wide range of trips, tours, and river cruises. They enjoyed a time share condo in Kona, Hawaii for many years, and they both came to love Englewood Beach in Florida, where they could also enjoy the company of Doug’s brother, John. Closer to home, Doug found a lot of satisfaction in tending to a patch of prairie outside of Calgary, a 4800 acre nature preserve called Cross Conservation Area, where he volunteered for many years. He loved to hike and explore, go boating, and pick mushrooms and berries, and he was even handy in the kitchen, often cooking up the day’s catch or whipping up a batch of freezer jam. He enjoyed woodworking, and many of his works are still proudly displayed in the homes of his family members. He could fix anything. His interests even extended to music: although he didn’t play an instrument, he sang in choirs for many years and he seemed to not only tolerate, but enjoy, the years of kids “practicing” their instruments in the house.

Doug was not the loudest one of the bunch, but he was the one people listened to, and respected. He had a calm, easy presence and a witty sense of humor, and he provided patient guidance to anyone who needed it. He set a wonderful example of a life well-lived, and he made a positive difference in the lives of many. He will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Doug’s remarkable life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations can be made in memory of Doug to the Cross Conservation Area – www.crossconservation.org/donate - or to another charity of one’s choosing.