Douglas R Whalen - Class of 1961

Douglas R Whalen - Class of 1961

Submitted by Bill Norvell 1965 <w.norvell@att.net> on 16/Jul/2019
184.88.194.197

Douglas Richard Whalen, Hello everyone. I am sorry I left in such a abrupt fashion. But it was just my time. I will laugh, love and cherish all of our memories. And will be looking down on you often. So behave !!! I will be present for a viewing at the Sturtevant Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 25th from 7 to 9 PM. There will be a funeral service for me the next day Wednesday, September 26th at 1 PM also at the Sturtevent Funeral Home, with a following burial service at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery located in Suffolk, VA.

Douglas Richard Whalen, 75, of Virginia Beach, died September 20, 2018. A native of Newburgh, NY, he was the son of the late Cecil S. and Hazel B. Whalen. Doug was the retired owner of Hydrologix, a former Portsmouth Police detective, technical director for dialysis at Portsmouth General Hospital, private pilot and instructor, member of Seaboard Masonic Lodge #56, the Earl Edwards Magic Ring 103 and the Portsmouth Anglers Club. He enjoyed visiting Scouts and sick children as Santa Claus, went to Newburgh Free Academy and was a Navy veteran. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn; two sons, James Whalen and wife Lisa, and Brian Whalen and wife Jody; and two grandchildren, Kyle and Luke. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 1 PM in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel. https://www.sturtevantfuneralhome.com Burial with military honors will be at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or www.donatelife.net - FB - https://www.facebook.com/douglas.whalen

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Submitted by Alex Kurlychek Cl-1963 ajkurlychek@bellsouth.net I am greatly saddened to read about the passing of my boyhood best friend, Doug Whalen. I never had a brother but I considered Doug to be like a big brother. Funny I should find out after I happened to mention his name to you in a previous message. I had no idea.
        Doug lived above our apartment in Newburgh with his parents, James and Hazel. We would trade comics we bought from Wee Willie White’s store around the corner from the Fanny Farmer candy store (yummy memories). We would set up our Lionel trains in his apartment and have fun crashing them into each other – they were made of metal back then and were almost indestructible. I always wanted the train engine with the ‘white wall’ wheels, it looked sooo cool. I think it was made by American Flyer.
        Doug always looked after me – he protected me from a couple of neighborhood bullies who were brothers. Doug taught me to ride a two wheel bike at Washington’s Headquarters. I remember he told me “The Cheerio Kid” was watching me as he let go of the bike after guiding me along and keeping me upright. Well, all was fine for about 15 seconds until I ran into some woman’s crotch with the front wheel!! I had no idea how to use the brake! We both told that story every time we saw each other, which was not enough.
       We exchanged Christmas cards “sometimes’, and I know he had two sons whom he was very proud of. Doug was a self-made man: he learned to fly planes and once took me up for a ride early on. He got into the water purification business at the start of its infancy, and sold reverse osmosis systems throughout the tidewater area to much success.
       Once, when I visited him many years ago on Niland Ct. a girl whom I had been dating followed me down to Doug’s house unbeknownst to me, and showed up with her sister as well. SURPRISED the hell out of me, but the funny thing is that Doug’s good friend ended up marrying the sister! That’s another thing Doug never forgot and spoke of it often.
       The last time I saw Doug was maybe 5 or 7 years ago (?) at his home and he was in sad shape. He was confined to a wheelchair and had about a 50 foot oxygen tube following him around. He had difficulty remembering some words and it made him a bit angry at himself. It most likely was a result of a stroke. My wife Sharon and I stayed the night and Doug made breakfast for us. I am grateful for the memory of that last visit with my friend. I will never forget him.

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