Obituary of Douglas Craig Fernau

"He was a man; take him for all in all. I shall not look upon his like again" Hamlet - Act 1 William Shakespeare His genetic make-up made for a very interesting fellow. Doug was born in the Mohawk Valley village of Niskayuna near Albany in New York State. His family had migrated to the United States from England and Germany in the early 1800s. Doug credited his dry, rapier wit to his English genes. His Prussian roots were his foundation and he was ever so tenacious, stubborn and analytical. He always cut to the chase and was the perfect candidate for getting the job at hand done. Those who knew him well and lived him without exception would say his genetic make-up made for a very interesting fellow — earning him a small pool of loyal friends throughout his 74 years on Earth. Often people would ask his wife Susan, had she ever considered divorce during their 37 years of marriage. Her standard reply was: "Divorce, never! Murder — perhaps!" A Renaissance Man Doug learned to fly planes as a teenager, attained membership in MENSA in his early 20s (albeit short-lived due to boredom), mountain-climbed, skied, sky-dived, deep ocean-dived and loved boating on Penobscot Bay. He was known for his epicurean skills. Saying he was quite the chef and wine aficionado would be an understatement. He never encountered a recipe that did not capture his interest. He played the piano by ear. On occasion, he composed lyrical musical compositions dedicated to his wife. And when it came to Artie Shaw tunes, he danced the light fantastic. A Loving and Supportive Husband and Friend To Susan, Doug was her best friend, who never let his passion for romance dim ... always debonair, gallant, thoughtful and protective. He was the love of her life. Early on in their marriage, he encouraged her to reach for the sky in her career and was her biggest supporter on her corporate climb with Westin Resorts and Hotels. He was noted for being "selectively" loving and loyal to a small group of family and friends. He had little tolerance for the disingenuous. Well-known for his integrity and also maddening in forming opinions based on first impressions that seldom changed, he did admit when he was wrong (which was infrequent) and made amends accordingly. He was a lover of nature, and domestic animals he adopted were like four-legged children to him. In his later life, he rescued many a wonderful German shepherd. The last, Kyzer, he considered a special gift and whose loss nearly broke his heart. A Successful Business Executive During his business career, he worked for the former Marine Midland Bank, Amerada Hess Oil, and The Palmieri Company as Executive Vice President. During his long tenure with Palmieri he co-administered, under Federal appointment, the large real estate portfolio of the infamous Teamster Pension Plan. He worked closely with the esteemed John Koskinen, a lifelong friend; the late legal genius, Julian Burke; his "Padrone," Jim Gypton; and Joan Spaulding Coleman, who introduced him to Susan, and who in later years procured for him an interesting assignment working on the real estate portfolio of then-Ambassador to France, the Honorable Pamela Churchill Harriman. He truly admired all four Palmieri associates and never forgot their positive impact on his life in general. It was his most intellectually challenging position and brought him much satisfaction through the years — even when he was called as a Federal witness against well-known "connected Tony Soprano-type" characters during the early, heady '80s in Chicago. Retiring to Maine Doug's lifelong goal from childhood was to retire to Maine in his early 40s and settle into a "supposed" life in the slow lane. No doubt he was influenced by his parents' marriage in Portland during wartime and their glowing commentary on the great state of Maine. In Maine he opened a small retail business with his wife and continued to work as a consultant for The Palmieri Company for many years thereafter. He dabbled in the local real estate market and then one day, on a whim, answered an advertisement in The Republican Journal for a law enforcement position with the Waldo County Sheriff's Department. Much to his surprise, he was hired. When asked by colleagues why he moved to Maine, Doug's stock answer was, "I came under the auspices of the witness protection program." He often wondered if his high federal government security clearance was an added draw or if it cast suspicion upon him as someone connected with black ops. Through his tenure with the "department," he added additional responsibilities by working as a transport officer, court officer and security for then-Probate Court Judge Randy Mailloux. Always respected for his work ethic, deadpan sense of humor and high intelligence (as well as his sartorial excellence while in uniform and plain clothes), Doug enjoyed his years at Waldo No. 76. He appreciated the staff, the people in the community, and the feeling he was giving back to the county he loved. He was likened to an Italian "Carabinieri" by his fellow officers for his expertise in directing traffic at the annual Common Ground Fair. Doug was told that it took several years after he resigned for the traffic flow to run as smoothly as it had under his watch. Ah, the stories he could tell of his Sheriff's Department days and always with a twinkle in his big blue eyes! A Beautiful Mind and Body Lost Healthy, athletic and robust all his life, Doug — a former Marine — passed away from complications relating to advanced Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy, stroke, Lewy Body Dementia and cancer. Stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina at the ripe age of 17, he — like many other Marines and their families — was unknowingly exposed to the carcinogenic water at the Camp. A healthy lifelong lifestyle kept the Grim Reaper at bay until his 60s. Then, with an unmerciful vengeance, his health declined painfully and rapidly. A beautiful mind and body lost to the vagaries of an insidious set of diseases. The Family Doug Leaves Behind Doug is survived by his loving wife Susan; daughter Theresa and her husband Bill Dunn of Springfield, Missouri; daughter Deborah of southern California; seven grandchildren, including Coco and Scooter; and four great-grandchildren. In addition, he leaves behind his special sisters, Jean and Marlene of Los Angeles and Honolulu; and close friends Rainer Bohl of Ohio and Jean Mooney of Arizona. He was predeceased by both his parents, Anna Elizabeth (Atkinson Kagel), Howard (Roth) Fernau and his dear mother-in-law, Marguerite (Bellora-Biordi) Rocco (affectionately known as his "Honolulu Honey") and father-in-law Emmett (Trotta) Rocco, a well-known, high-ranking heavyweight boxer from the 1930s. With Special Thanks The family wishes to thank Catie Wilson (his PCP) and a wonderful team of healthcare professionals who aided in his transition, especially his hospice nurses at Maine Health, and in his final days at Sussman House in Rockport, the angelic nursing and volunteer team. Special thanks are in order to the dedicated and caring Northport First Responders crew and the supremely efficient staff from the Belfast Ambulance Service. They always came in Doug's hour of need, regardless of the weather or the time of day. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made either to the all-volunteer Northport First Responders c/o The Town of Northport, 16 Beech Hill Road, Northport ME 04849, or to Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport ME 04856. The good they all do especially during Maine's notorious inclement weather and all hours of the day and night deserves homage. Every once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale. "Good night, sweet Prince." Adieu, until we meet again. Semper fi.