Douglas V. Mullally of Mill Creek, DE, formerly of Jeffersonville, NY, died on Sunday, October 23, 2022 after a brief illness. 

Born on July 14, 1947, Doug’s lifelong travels took him all over the country, from his birthplace on Swiss Hill, Jeffersonville, NY to Colorado, Florida, the West Coast and finally to Delaware, where he lived with beloved wife of 37 years, Katherine B. Mullally. 

How do you summarize someone’s entire life in this short column, when the space they occupied held such enormity?  We haven’t just lost Doug, we’ve lost all he’s taken with him. His precious memories, his stories, his laugh, his love of life.

Though the first half of Doug’s life was a rocky road he was able to reinvent himself, he became a light so big and so bright that it touched everyone he met.  As his daughter Josie describes, “No matter what his path if he hadn’t walked it and became who he was, I wouldn’t be half the person I am.” Many people who have walked the path to sobriety feel the same way. Doug’s wife, Katherine, brought out the very best in Doug. She stood by him and helped him become the person we all know and love. He went from losing his way to guiding us all.  

You didn’t have a choice of not knowing Doug, if you were anywhere around him, he made damn sure he met you. He would grab your hand with a powerful shake and a booming “Hello.” You were lucky if he left you without breaking your fingers. He made it a point to know you, to listen to you and to genuinely be interested in what you had to say. He left you with a lasting impression. His favorite thing was people. He was the center of attention because of the way he made people feel.

Sean, Doug’s eldest son, said it best, “In spite of his larger than life gregarious personality, he had a kindness and warmth that could reach directly into your heart and soul.”

Doug convinced us that he was immortal, he was always planning the future; his “bucket list” grew as he got older. Death really had to sneak up on him. 

Doug is survived by the memories he’s created for us, the stories he told, his humor, his personality, his bigger than life persona. He did everything, experienced everything, he lived life to the fullest and shared that fullness with others.

Grief isolates us but it links us together. Grief is also a creator. It creates a place for us to love the thing that we most wished had not happened. “What punishments of God are not gifts.” We honor his memory and share his stories. Do what Doug did best, connect with others. Love people. Keep your loved ones close, hug them; cherish the moments, for tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.