William Dean Douglass, Jr.

Rocket-nut. Pizza aficionado. Beer king.

Former Palisades resident William “Bill” Douglass died peacefully at his daughter’s Santa Monica home on October 6 at age 92. Bill was a great, humble man with a heart of gold.

People loved Bill’s warmth, spontaneity and good-natured encouragement. He was a lively, humorous storyteller, told in his deep voice that was “made for radio.” Bill could explain how anything scientific or technological worked, and fixed everything from toasters to rebuilding a car engine from scratch.

Bill’s family was his pride and joy, and he was a fantastic, hands-on grandfather. He was also passionate about science fiction, rockets and space, trains, skiing, rollerblading, country music, pizza, and Budweiser long necks.

Bill grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his younger sister Ann. He was an Eagle Scout, and then a proud Cornhusker where he swam four years and received a BSEE in electronics and communication.

He served our country in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant, where he was a champion shooter.

In 1956, he married Kathleen Curran of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. They resided mainly in Syracuse, New York, prior to raising their children in Pacific Palisades. In later years Bill moved to San Jose, then Scotts Valley, California.

Bill worked for GE (16 years) on rocket and space programs, including work on the Guidance System for Mercury-Atlas 9. He then worked for AMP Inc. (18 years) in computer connectors. One of his entertaining stories was his very quick—and unsuccessful—meeting with Steve Jobs.

Since he retired in 2000, Bill saw almost every Cape Canaveral space shuttle launch. Well into his 80s he made the four-day, cross-county drive, often accompanied by one of his grandchildren, to the Motel 6 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he stayed for each send-off.

Bill served as president of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA swim team and was the original founder of the Palisades High School girls swim team. For years he was the popular official starter at Pali-Y home swim meets and was very involved in his three kids’ swimming careers.

Bill leaves this following ‘herd of turtles’:  daughter Kelly Johnson, son William Douglass III, and daughter Mary Pat Hastings (Duane); 8 grandchildren: Beck Johnson, Teal Johnson Marsili, Tait Johnson, Bryn Hastings, Cort Hastings, Jake Hastings, Olivia Douglass and Emmarose Douglass; and 2 great-grandchildren: Giorgio Marsili and Chiara Marsili.