With a heavy heart I share that Doug McLeod, Executive Director of the Southington Y from 1974 to 1992 passed away peacefully at age 84 on September 26th surrounded by his loving family.
Passionate, compassionate, leader, charismatic, funny, genuine, mentor, visionary, risk taker, thoughtful, committed, faithful, friend, are just a few ways that friends, family and colleagues have described Doug.
In Southington, Doug, along with a talented and committed group of staff and volunteers helped build on a foundation starting back in 1928 to provide people of all ages and backgrounds opportunities and experiences to help reach their greatest potential. Doug fondly and enthusiastically called the Southington Y; ‘The Mecca of all Ys. Doug’s leadership style helped mentor many young Y professionals and allowed us to follow a career path of service to others
Here’s a small sampling of Doug’s incredible impact:
“Doug was a huge inspiration in my YMCA Career. He was the first Executive Director that I worked under and even as a part time employee, he made me feel like part of the Y family. I believe his biggest gifts were his kind heart and willingness to help those in need. In addition, his sense of humor, quick wit, jovial personality and outgoingness made him a joy to be around. His laughter was infectious!”
“Doug has been an inspiration to me since I was a 24 year old new program director at the Y. I fondly tell stories about him and lessons I learned from him and quote him 30 years later! Doug had that kind of impact on my life and he has had that same impact on so many lives. He was a role model and inspiration and I am so grateful for how he has influenced my life. I am much better for having Doug in my life. His zest for life and gift of humor and always doing what is right and kind are things that I will always treasure and will always keep close to my heart. The people he touched by his life are so much better because of him. He is a legend and always will be to me.”
“In my mind Doug was a pioneer in the growth of our YMCA. The service and facility expansions under his leadership paved the way for our Y’s current financial stability and commitment to the community. Above all else Doug was a heck of a human being!”
“I remember him very fondly, although I did not know him very well. He always made time to chat when we ran into each other after he retired and was genuinely interested in my career and developments at the Y. I do remember that he was responsible for putting the bus routes together at Camp Sloper and he would always meet with the bus monitors to go over our routes with us and make jokes. I remember his easy smile and laugh”
“A very wise man, thoughtful, insightful, kind, sincere, invested in the Y mission, genuine. I always felt like if he said something, even if it was not what I wanted to hear, it was always something constructive and his motives were always pure. A saying that perfectly describes Doug: ‘you may not remember everything someone ever said to you but you will remember how they made you feel’. I was blessed to have Doug in my life.”
“Doug had a way of making our hard 24/7 work and service to the Y look easy. A truly decent man with unflappable values resonated so well with Y members, Y staff, and community members. What a joy it was to work with Doug and be witness to such a remarkable person. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
Born in Ware, MA, Doug was the son of the late Harold and Florence McLeod. He graduated from North Quincy HS and earned his Bachelor degree from Boston University. He served as Director for the South Shore, New Haven and Southington YMCA’s during his 34 year career. He was an active member of several civic organizations including the Rotary Club of Southington where he served as President and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow.
Doug was a past President of the Florida Chapter, Association of YMCA Retirees and the St. Augustine Shores Civic Association. He was a committed volunteer for the St. Augustine Historical Research Library, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Beyond The Gates Ministry at Bayview Care Center.
Doug is also a member of the YMCA Camp Sloper Hall of Fame and has been recognized as a LIVING LEGEND by the Southington YMCA.
Doug is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carol M. McLeod of St Augustine, FL and his Brother, Donald McLeod and his wife Marilyn of Weymouth, MA. He was predeceased by his younger sister Roberta Larmey of Weymouth, MA. He also leaves behind his son, D. Scott McLeod and his wife Gail of Westerly, RI and his daughter Holly Ruark and her husband Richard of St Johns, FL. He will be missed dearly by his grandchildren, Evan McLeod and his partner Pam Tufano, Lauren M. Tripp and her husband Zachary and Olivia Ruark and her partner Taylor Mays and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Camp Sloper Scholarship Fund, Southington YMCA, 29 High Street, Southington, CT 06489 in his name.
The family is planning on a memorial services honoring the extraordinary life of Doug next summer in The Y’s Sloper Outdoor Center Memorial Forest.
