Douglas Ervin Weathers

Douglas Ervin Weathers (Feb 5, 1963 - Aug 1, 2023) was born in Eugene, Oregon. He was a mellow baby who disliked sticky hands and showed early signs of brilliance. Reading came easily, and at a young age he was taking things apart to see how they worked. Doug grew to love the beauty of a well-made machine. And the taste of a well-crafted brew. Born into an Air Force family, Doug lived in Europe for nine years, and graduated from Brussels American High School in a senior class of 28 students. He was a voracious reader, reading constantly as a teenager-at the breakfast table, while riding his bike, while brushing his teeth (he went through toothbrushes at an alarming rate because he'd just keep brushing and reading). His first run at college at the University of Oregon landed him his biggest win in life: finding and marrying Anna (Gilson) Paradox. Their 37-year marriage was a storybook romance; anyone who knew them recognized their mutual, intense, and enduring love. While his first career in computers was successful, he was a life-long science fiction fan and longed to be involved in space exploration. Doug was one of the first students to enroll in New Mexico State University's Aerospace Engineering Program, graduating with a B.S. in 2011. He loved his time at NMSU, and fulfilled a life-long dream of working in the space industry after graduation, designing batteries for a spaceship. Ever ready with a pun and with a quick, wry sense of humor, Doug was also ready to help family members and friends with projects of all kinds: from computer purchasing and troubleshooting, to installing appliances, to electrical wiring, to building shelves, to anything that needed his technical genius. His availability and creativity in problem solving were gifts to so many. Doug was a passionate cat lover. While in his twenties and living in Portland, Oregon, his first cat adopted him. While walking to work, a kitten jumped on him and climbed to his shoulder. After making sure the kitten didn't live elsewhere, he took her home. Pumpkin and Doug bonded deeply. Other cats and kittens have also fallen for Doug's charms. His and Anna's current cats, Banichi and Caramel, miss him terribly. In April, 2020, early in COVID, Doug experienced a bleeding stroke that almost took his life. He battled back from that serious condition with his typical kindness and patience, and unique ability to remain unflustered. He used the rehab time to take Banichi on long night-time walks, learned how to crochet, and became a proficient baker, especially in bread baking. Doug was loved by many; his loss is heartbreaking. He leaves behind his wife, Anna Paradox, his parents, Mo and Lois Weathers, his sister, Charis Weathers, her wife, Deborah Frost, and many other members of his extended family and circle of friends. A memorial service for Doug will be held in the Portland, OR, area, as yet to be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Doug's name to any of these space-related causes: National Space Society, dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization: https://space.nss.org/what-is-l5/ SETI Institute, search for extra-terrestrial intelligence: https://www.seti.org/ Parabolic Arc, space-related media coverage: https://www.patreon.com/parabolicarc/about