Douglas "Doug" Dean Scott

Doug was born on June 8, 1963 in Honolulu, Hawaii and was raised as a Navy kid, traveling the country and the world before he even finished elementary school. His childhood was spent in Hawaii, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Kifissia (a suburb of Athens, Greece), back to Massachusetts, and finally to Kansas, where he graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. He then moved north and got his degree in Music Education at UW-Madison, where his parents had first met in the Concert Band. His involvement in the UW Marching Band was a highlight of Doug’s university experience, where he formed lifelong friendships. Music has been his life ever since.  

He had a remarkable gift for connecting people. He impacted the lives of people, locally and around the globe, with his many passions and involvements. This includes his church family at St. Catherine’s, where he directed the choir and touched the lives of many through his musical leadership. He worked for many years at White House of Music where his knowledge and desire to promote a love of music will live on in the hearts of everyone he worked with. His musical contributions throughout Milwaukee, especially in the German and Austrian communities, resulted in more musical magic than can be measured. This included coordinating concerts with youth from Austria, which required local hosts and created lifelong international friendships.  

Doug was a very active member of the running community, contributing miles to many local non-profits and causes. In his “spare time,” he also ran multiple marathons…locally and around the world. He completed the Boston Marathon twice, the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon many times, and ran marathons in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.

He was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in late 2020. Cancer ultimately got the upper hand but not before Doug took the reins for a year-long interlude…a time that allowed so many to be reminded of the profound impact his life had on theirs. Friends and family showed up often and seemed to know when he needed them most. His sisters and stepmother Carol Scott worked together to coordinate his care, but so many others provided meals, music, transportation, and companionship.  

Doug is survived by his sisters: Kathleen Obbink of Wauwatosa, Sandra Scott of Grayslake, IL, and Diane (Gary) Fergot of Eau Claire. He is also survived by his niece Sarah (Jeremy) Mericle, nephew Alex (Katie) Fergot, great-niece Sophie, great-nephew Arthur and many caring cousins across the country. Feeling his absence the most are Frank and Abby, Doug’s feline family. Preceding him in death were his mother, Mary “Polly” Scott, and father, Ronald Scott.  

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, 5101 W. Center St., Milwaukee, at 11:30 AM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 1 PM. There will be a Celebration of Doug's Life following the Mass. 

If you would like to honor Doug’s life, please consider making a donation in Doug’s name to an organization that supports one of Doug’s passions.