David Holmes Douglass Jr. 1932-2023

Born in Bangor, Maine on February 12, 1932

David Douglass passed peacefully in his home on February 7, 2023

Survived by his wife, Eugenia Douglass, Sister, Nancy Kane; Daughter, Janet Peggy Heddings; Son, Richard David Douglass and wife Amiee Douglass, and Daughter in-law, Judy Douglass.

Predeceased by his father, David Holmes Douglass Sr., mother, Helen Lane, and son, James Bradford Douglass.

7 Grandchildren: Lowell Heddings, Sherri Mattson, James Heddings, Mary Heddings, Lloyd Douglass, Zeb Douglass, Asa Douglass

11 Great grandchildren: Anthony Heddings, Jonathon Heddings, Sabrina Tenant, Gabriella Raquino, Jackson Heddings, Benjamin D. Heddings, Benjamin B. Heddings, Evangeline Heddings, Gideon Heddings, Vivienne Heddings, and Valerie Heddings

David Douglass grew up in Maine living on his grandparents’ farm. He knew he wanted to go to college but lacked the needed foreign language. The following year he worked 3 jobs and completed the required French class and entered the University of Maine where he received his B.S. in Physics. He then went on to graduate MIT in 1959 with a PhD. in Physics. His thesis was on Antiferromagnetic resonance in manganous chloride.

After positions at MIT Lincoln Laboratories and MIT, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago. Once at Chicago, he was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor. Professor Douglass joined the University of Rochester as a Professor of Physics in 1968. He was a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Award (junior) for four years, the Alfred P. Sloan Award (senior), and the University of Rochester’s Bridging Fellowship to the Eastman School of Music. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Professor Douglass interests were in the general area of experimental condensed matter physics, which involved experiments with liquid helium and superconductivity. He made significant contributions in the field of gravitational wave detectors. His interest for the last several years focused on climate change, with the fundamental science issues underlying ” global warming”.

He will be greatly missed.