I liked Doug enormously and will remember him as he was that last year of
high school: doing PSSC physics, playing hockey and badminton, and friggin' around, He was wicked bright and kind and funny.

Sad to get such news

     I knew Doug Knapp well 1956-1960 and somewhat 1961-1965.  As an adolescent he was exceptionally athletic and very energetic.  When he was at my house and invited me to his, he would invariably ask me to join him in running the three-quarters of a mile.  He could hold his own in a fist-fight; but he was not mean and was unenthusiastic about the Army National Guard training him to kill (although he served creditably).  Like his mother, he saw humor in many things that other people would take phlegmatically.  His notable expression when he was frustrated was “Ming-ga!”  I have no idea where he got it.  
He was definitely attracted to girls.  In the 1950s, Doug's ideas on society and politics (freedom and equality of opportunity for everyone) were similar to what became popular in the 1960s.  He must have gotten something from his father about whom my brother once said, “Roger Knapp was ten years ahead of his time.”  Doug never worried about what might happen to his spirit after death. I am sorry that Doug died at age 70.  He deserved better.

  This is to explain a remark in my earlier post, about Doug, in the 1950s, having some of the of the 1960s' social and political views.  Doug had a very low opinion of war and of capital punishment.  He accepted people of all races and ethnic groups as equals.  However, he did not seek chemical escapes from ordinary life.  He smoked not at all, and never took illegal drugs.  (He was so healthy that I doubt that he took any drugs when I knew him, 1956-1965.)  Also, he showed no interest in spiritual escapes -- no pursuit of Eastern religions, etc.
   Furthermore, Doug was energetic and a hard worker.  He would sometimes competitively ask a male peer, "Are you working hard or hardly working?"

Douglas Roger Knapp was born in Melrose and died in Boston, Massachusetts, was a 1964 graduate, University of Massachusetts, majoring in Mathematics.  He attended North Andover High School and graduated from Masconomet Regional High School of Boxford, class of 1960. 



He was a champion bridge player, accomplished pianist. He was predeceased by his father, Roger B. Knapp, and mother Sarah Snyder Knapp. He leaves his sister Karen Van Knapp, nephew James Hodgson, niece Gretel Clarke, brothers-in-law John Hodgson and Alan Clarke, his aunt Marjorie Doane Knapp Martin of Florida, Nancy Knapp Bryant of Maine, Stephen Robert Knapp of California, and several cousins.



A family memorial service will be held at a later date.  He was greatly loved and is greatly missed.

OBITUARY

Douglas R Knapp

May 29, 1942 – October 24, 2012

Lindquist Funeral Home

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