Please CHOOSE A DIFFERENT VERSION to watch if this one doesn't play through for you:

• BETTER (good quality, medium file size)
• GOOD (standard quality, small file size)

This video is quintessential Doug, although it shows a side of him not everyone was lucky enough to see. Notice he is wearing his celebratory Giants Championship sweatshirt I got for him after the 2007 playoffs. Tenzing the Cat spectates in the background. I think this "performance" was associated with my bummage after losing a whole clutch of bluebird eggs (just about to hatch) to a House Wren attack. He was trying to cheer me up. Maybe it will bring you cheer. Crank up the volume.
- Bet Z.

JUMP TO: Z Film Festival | Blog | Obituaries & Condolences| Services | Videos | Photos | Articles | Sharing & Stories | Giving a Tribute to Doug | Thank You | Hypertension & Benicar | Grieving

ABOUT THIS SITE

This website is a tribute to my husband, Doug Zimmerman. While running, Doug's heart suddenly stopped. He was 52. I set up this website in an effort to share Dougness with others. That includes those who miss him like I do, and those who were not lucky enough to know him. It is also helping me process the turning upside down of my world. Read more. Be forewarned that the grieving parts are pretty raw.

BLOG

• Posts, and chronological listing of pages for those intrepid souls coming back for more, or who wish to see things in sequence.
  • June - July 2010
  • August 2010

Z FLIX: FILM FESTIVAL

The Woodstock Historical Society sponsored a film series in honor of Doug's life in July 2010 at Palmer Hall 523 Route 169, on the hill in Woodstock, CT. More movies and a Z climbing slide show are planned. More info.

OBITUARIES & Condolences

• Obituary
• Gilman & Valade - Offer condolences or share memories of Doug
• Hartford Courant - Offer condolences or share memories of Doug
• Condolences combined on one page

SERVICES

• Eulogies at the Memorial Service on June 12, 2010
• Sharing Remembrances (Quaker Style)

VIDEOS

• Singing in the Rain video clip. Filmed by Bet while camping in the Gaspe Peninsula. Edited and posted by friend Joe Chapuis of Web Video Zone
• Impromptu Geology Lecture | More about this one.
• The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow
• The Shootist. Doug and caulking guns (after working on some bluebird houses.) This performance was for my gun enthusiast brother John and his sons.
• Cat conkage. Doug plays with the cat and conks him on the noggin.
• Welcome to the Mouse House. Doug lets out a girlie man scream at the end.
• Z slide show on YouTube, compiled by sister-in-law Tina Gallagher
• Memorial Service
  • Grow Old (Along) with Me, Emily John and Elinor Donahue (added 06/24/2010)
  • Ashokan Farewell, Jeff Davis (added 06/24/2010)

PHOTOS

• Doug and his buddy Tenzing the (Ugly) Cat - Doug wrote most of the captions
• Hand in clouds
• More coming soon - there are so many

ARTICLES

• Climbers Go Where No One Has Gone Before, Hartford Courant, 08/01/1998
• My Hero (Our Better Nature newspaper column)
• Doug & Bluebirding (added 06/23/2010)
• The Ultimate in Recycling - Organ Donation (including Robert Test's poem "To Remember Me" (Our Better Nature)
• Possum Home Invasion (Our Better Nature)

SHARING & STORIES

• Some of the things I miss about Doug and our life together (07/08/2010)
• Sainthood - Not (07/11/2010)
• The End - what happened in those last days
• Quotes and Poems
• Stories
• Lisa: canoes and clouds
• Channeling Doug - What would Doug do? (06/25/2010)
• The Gift (07/01/2010)
• Sayings (Dougisms) (07/06/2010)
• Rope Man (07/11/2010)
• Our annual Christmas letters and collages (07/21/2010)

GIVING A TRIBUTE TO DOUG

• American Alpine Club - 710 10th St Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401
  • Giving
• Founders of Environmental Earth Science Fund (Eastern CT State University) - c/o ECSU Foundation, 83 Windham St., Willimantic CT 06226
  • Read more about the EES Fund.
  • Doug's experience at Eastern
• Woodstock Historical Society - PO Box 65, Woodstock CT 06281

ALSO

• Organ Donation. Please consider signing up as an organ or tissue donor - More.
• Gifts of Many Colors

THANK YOU

• Special thanks to the non-profits, organizations and businesses who provided invaluable support to us:
  • Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc., of Hartford CT and the heroes who attempted to revive him. Read more.
  • Hartford Hospital Emergency Room Staff and Social Services of Hartford CT.
    • Donation
    • Special thanks to Dr. Michael Drescher, Associate Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine for information, kindness and patience, and to
    • Kelly Pabilionia of Social Services
  • Doug’s last act was giving the gift of sight and healing through tissue donation.
    • LifeChoice Donor Services
      • Special thanks to Sheila Murphy, Tissue Coordinator, LifeChoice
      • Doug Zimmerman's Gift of Life, article in the Villager Newspapers
      • The Ultimate in Recycling - organ donation article from Our Better Nature
  • Gilman & Valade Funeral and Cremation Service in Putnam CT. They helped us through one of the most difficult times in our life.
  • Road ID: The metal ID on Doug's running shoes made it possible for the Emergency Room staff to contact me and Doug's parents immediately. Read more.
  • The Hill Church of Woodstock CT for hosting Doug's memorial service, especially Pastor Jamie Harrison and "the church ladies."
  • Cuisine Duva of Columbia, CT- Paul and Diane Duva for catering at the service and being wonderful friends

HYPERTENSION & BENICAR

• The cause of Doug's untimely death is still being evaluated. He did have hypertension and elevated cholesterol, and was on Benicar HCT and Crestor. Three days after he collapsed, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication: Ongoing safety review of Benicar and cardiovascular events. If you are taking Benicar, I urge you to read this notice and discuss alternatives and monitoring with your physician. Read more.

GRIEVING

• Blog
• What I need. How to help a grieving person - suggested do's and don'ts. (07/16/2010)
• Stages of Grief
• Quotes and Poems that have touched me
• The dragonfly story, by Doris Stickney (added 06/20/2010)
• My Fears and Worries (06/27/2010)
• Please don't try to force me to eat what I don't need or want (06/28/2010)
• Family and Friends cushioning the blow (06/30/2010)
• Regrets and wishes (07/04/2010)
• Changed financial circumstances (07/15/2010)
• Suicide and suicidal thoughts in the midst of grief (07/16/2010)
• Healing Rituals (07/17/2010)
• Grief & Safety (07/20/2010)
• Interrupting rumination - alternative coping strategies (07/21/2010)
• The things I DON'T regret (07/22/2010)
• "You need to keep busy" (07/24/2010)
• Butterflies as a symbol of hope and new life (07/26/2010)
• The Wish-You-Were-Still-Here Birthday Party/Drunkfest (07/26/2010)
• Do the departed watch over us? Signs. Legacies. (07/28/2010)
• Living with Guilt and Thoughtworms (07/31/2010)
• Sudden death - what it is like for those left behind (08/11/2010)
• Things that trigger tears (08/17/2010)
• Reverse "What Ifs?" (08/17/2010)