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The Queen’s community is remembering Allan Douglas a long-time staff member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, who died March 8 at the age of 86.

Douglas started his career as a lab technician at Queen’s in 1956 at the age of 20 and spent his entire 40-year career with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In his work he provided media and supplies for the department’s labs. When he retired in 1996 he was recognized for his four decades of service, an honour he greatly appreciated.

During his time at the university, Douglas also met, in 1964, his future-wife Mary Ellen, who also worked as a lab technician at the department. They dated, fell in love, were married in 1969 and had five children together.

During his later years before retirement, Douglas found the time to audit a few courses in the Department of History to satisfy his deep love of history. This was a great opportunity since he had left high school to help his widowed mother. As well as history, he also loved philosophy, religion and fiction. He was an avid reader of books on the subjects. He was also a stamp collector from the time he was ten years old and especially collected the countries whose history he followed. He was honoured by the Kingston stamp club recently as the current oldest long-time member of their club.

Woodworking was another hobby he enjoyed in his younger years and crafted rocking horses and other toys for his beloved children and grandchildren.

Allan Douglas was a strong, quiet man of faith, a good husband, father and grandfather. He had a strong work ethic and always carried out his work with the same loyalty and commitment. His longstanding career in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology created many life-long friends and he will be remembered and missed by many.

Written with files from Mary Ellen Douglas.

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