Douglas Weir Addison

Douglas Weir Addison,89, died September 16, 2014 in Hartford. Born November 3, 1924 in Springfield, MA, he was the only child of the late Douglas J. and Christine Weir Addison. Doug was also predeceased by his two wonderful wives, A.M. (Marge) Winings Addison in 1992 and Ruth Wentworth Gilchrist Addison in 2011. He graduated from Commerce High School of Springfield, MA in 1942 with a concentration in bookkeeping and shorthand. Doug continued his education at Boston University, College of Business Administration, graduating in1945 with a B.S. in accounting and finance. He later earned his master's degree in Religious Education from Hartford Seminary in 1953. Doug was drafted into the Army in 1943 and served until 1945. His training was in the Coast Artillery and Field Artillery within the United States. After D-Day, he was shipped to England and attended clerk's school and had several jobs serving in France and Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was assigned as company clerk of the 5th Signal Company, 5th Infantry Division. Doug's formal education, his interest in business, finances and short hand, combined with his early church life training at Hope Congregational Church in Springfield provided him with direction for the rest of his life. During his college years, Doug participated in leadership roles for the Boston University Congregational Club which reached out to New England Christian Groups among various college campuses. This informative time helped Doug to contemplate using his talents in the church's organizational life. At Hartford Seminary Doug was introduced to the growing ecumenical movement where he took a sociology class and conducted a financial study of giving for the Hartford Council of Churches. The following summer he took a course in Boston concerning building new churches. His office skills earned him an invitation to go to Cleveland and become the office manager for the interdenominational agency, "Cleveland Church Federation". While in Ohio, Doug served as Religious Education Director for two congregational churches, one in Cincinnati the other in Cleveland. These positions confirmed Doug's conviction to remain active in the institutional church as a layperson. He returned to Hartford in 1958 as the bookstore manager for Hartford Seminary and served for 21 years. His final career position was as bookkeeper for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, retiring in 1990. Doug was active in local church ministry for his entire life. His membership at the Immanuel Congregational UCC included serving as Church School Teacher and Superintendant, Senior Deacon, Usher, Assistant Treasurer and Clerk and many other activities. His wider church interests included being active as delegate and committee member of both the Hartford Association and the Connecticut Conference. Doug also served as secretary of the board of directors for several groups; Woodland House Cooperative Corp., the Immanuel Housing Corp., and the Geneva Point Conference Center in New Hampshire. Outside interests were mainly hockey and small band jazz. He attended hockey games in Springfield, MA and Hartford or wherever he lived. Jazz started via radio in the late 1930's followed by Boston's Savoy Café in College. Doug traveled regularly to Ma, NY, and PA as well the two CT Traditional Jazz Festivals. He attended three Sacramento Jazz Festivals. The Hartford Stage plays were also important to his social life for over 25 years. Doug was predeceased by his cousin Ray Guy. They shared Sunday dinners at the maternal Weir home along with a common interest in music. Ray's children and their families along with his two first cousins are Doug's only surviving relatives. Other significant survivors are the children and grandchildren of Doug's two wives. From his first marriage to Marge Winings, Doug is survived by her two nephews Richard and Joseph and their families. From the second marriage to Ruth Gilchrist, Doug is remembered by 4 step-children, Bruce, John, Cynthia and Elizabeth, 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. A memorial service with be held at Immanuel Congregational Church on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at11 A.M. His ashes will be placed in the Memorial Garden with his 2 wives. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Book of Remembrance of the Immanuel Church, 10 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105. Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, West Hartford has care of arrangements. For directions and online condolences please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.

Douglas Weir Addison

September 16, 1925 - September 16, 2014