Charles Douglas (Doug) Van de Zande, 63, passed from this life on June 28, 2017, after a nearly seven-year, head-on fight with colorectal cancer. Doug was born to Charles Henry (Chuck) Van de Zande and Paulette Chambers Van de Zande in Hampton, Va., and he nurtured his gift of photography at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif. On January 4, 1992, Doug married the love of his life and his muse, Linda Stuhmer Van de Zande, in Raleigh, N.C.
If you had the great pleasure of knowing Doug, you knew an authentic, original human being, whose utmost joys were his wife Linda and their children, Georgia and Ty – followed closely by strong beer and good food, and plenty of it. You knew a photographer of unsurpassed talent. Doug was a true visionary artist and craftsman, who, never a fan of digital, opted for large format black and white film and mixing his own chemicals in the darkroom. Doug’s adventurous spirit and camera took him around the world, whether it was his freight-train hopping days across the country following high school, trips to Bimini and the Galápagos Islands, or his beautiful documentation that captured the decisive moments of sweat, dust and real, honest work of construction crews as they built landmark projects in downtown Raleigh. His photos captured the soul of living, telling stories without words.
Doug was a man of greatness as well as humility, an inspiration and a beloved friend, and a prankster with a nutty sense of humor. Doug always had time to share a chat and laugh, as often was the case, when you saw him in and around the streets of Raleigh.
Doug never quit fighting and he never stopped living. And living to him meant working his art. He liked to say he had 197 square miles of studio space (the surface area of earth). His loved ones would like to think Doug’s keen eye now has a view of studio space that has expanded exponentially. A part of Doug will always remain with those who loved him, in memories and through his work. www.vandezandephotography.com
Doug’s zeal for living carries on in the lives of those who survive him, including wife Linda Josephine Van de Zande; daughter Georgia Dawn; son Charles Tyson (Ty); parents, Charles Henry (Chuck) Van de Zande and Paulette Chambers Van de Zande; brother Derrik Van de Zande and wife Sandy; sister Mary Kramer and husband John; sister Jeanette Navia and husband Keith; and sister Elaine Van de Zande and husband Stan Schwartz.
A celebration of Doug’s life, his gifts and the treasured memories he leaves with those who loved him will be led by Pastors Lisa Yebuah and Ned Hill at 10:00 am, Saturday, July 1, 2017, at the Church on Morgan, 136 E. Morgan Street, in downtown Raleigh. The internment will take place in a ceremony at 11 am Monday July 3, at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the research fund for Duke Oncologist Dr. David Hsu, to whom the family is forever grateful for leading Doug’s battle, walking with Linda and Doug every step of the way, and always meeting every challenge set in their path. Duke Cancer Institute, Office of Development, Attn: Research fund for Dr. David Hsu Laboratory; 710 W. Main St.; Suite 200; Durham, NC 27701.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18