Douglas Trevor Lewis

Douglas Trevor Lewis, 91, of Rochester Hills, passed away May 27, 2017.

Beloved husband of Hazel Lewis; Dear father of David (Colleen) Lewis, Deborah (Peter) Lewis, Doug (Lorraine) Lewis, Mark (Jackie) Finston, Jeffrey Finston, Terrie (Richard) Finston; Dear grandfather to Sarena, Henry, and Alex; Caring brother to David (Gary) Lewis, Margaret Myers, and Evan Lewis; Kind uncle to David Bryan; Caring friend to many.

Doug was born the son of Gwynne and Dorothy Lewis on July 19, 1925, in Hackensack New Jersey, and grew up in Oradell. He joined the Navy and flew SNJ fighter trainers as a Navy Air Cadet at the end of WWII. After the war, he studied at Syracuse University, graduating as a mechanical engineer with memberships in the Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honor societies.

Doug moved to Michigan in 1949 to join General Motors. He married Jean Craig, with whom he had three children prior to her death. At GM, he developed innovative transmission technologies with two patents in his name for a Friction Drive Transmission and for Drivers Shift Control Release. Beginning in 1959, he created and led development of GPSIM, the first computer drivetrain simulation for advanced product engineering. He taught the first seminar in Modern Computing Techniques at GM Engineering Staff in 1959, and taught advanced computing classes at Oakland University in the 1960s.

Doug married Hazel Finston on November 12, 1966 in Rochester Hills, where they raised their family together. After retirement, he and Hazel spent summers sailboat cruising in the Great Lakes. They celebrated their 50 years of marriage in 2016.

Doug was a past president of Oakland Township Association and taught junior sailing lessons at Crescent Sail Yacht Club. He served as an elder, usher, and on

committee at University Presbyterian Church.

Doug had a wide ranging mind, and loved art as well as engineering. He built model aircraft, custom furniture, and sailboats. He loved photography, architecture, and music. He was an innovative engineer and computer scientist, and above all he partnered with Hazel to build the family they loved.

The family will welcome friends for a memorial gathering on Saturday June 10th, 2017 from 10am until the time of service at 11am at University Presbyterian Church, 1385 S. Adams Rd in Rochester Hills. Memorial contributions may be made in Doug’s honor to the University Presbyterian Church, or the Crescent Sail Yacht Club, 276 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. Share Memories online at www.PixleyFuneral.com.