Douglas Chester Harper

Laura, I was deeply moved to learn how supportive Doug was as you faced your own health challenges. I hope you find solace in your memories of Doug.

Doug and I "met" via an online forum for owners of Triumph motorcycles. I can't remember exactly when it was, but it was in my "first life", as I like to call it (i.e. my first marriage) and must have been the late 90s. I wrote something which, for Brits, was perfectly normal, but it was interpreted differently by a number of American forum members and I received a number of aggressive replies. Doug kindly stepped in and soothed the situation. We then started exchanging mails and continued to...

Rest in peace, Doug. You are missed -- your intelligence and wit knew no equal -- and loved.

I'm Laura's cousin, and I met Doug when I was a teenager. My family would often meet Doug and Laura in NYC for Indian food, and my dad and Doug became very friendly. Doug, thank you for loving and caring for Laura all these years. You are loved and missed.

So many wonderful and fond memories with both of you. The Indian Restaurant in NYC, the trips to the farm and Thanksgivings and of course motorcycles. Doug was always fascinating and interesting and vibrant. He will always be in our hearts and memories.

I first met Doug in India on a motorbike trip in 1999 - we were both terrified for our lives! I was lucky to spend time with him and Laura in New York and always found him to be the most interesting, enigmatic and amusing friend. My thoughts are with Laura and his family at this sad time.

Doug will always have a special place in our hearts. It was great having Doug and Laura join us on "the farm" growing up and enjoyed our time spent with them in New York City as well. Without fail, Doug was always a blast to be around and certainly lived his life with a lot of vigor. Whether talking shop, politics, or our next motorcycle adventure, we valued our time spent with Doug and will remember and miss his tour de force energy.

Love,

-Scott & Elaine Hartwick

I'll always remember Doug as my well read / well written cousin who always had a strong opinion about everything and never used filters to converse. I loved him for this. I'll always have fond memories of the first time I visited him in his Manhattan apartment decades ago now. Upon arriving he suggested where I should park. I was concerned it wasn't a legal space and not being familiar he convinced me it was OK. When he walked me downstairs the next morning to see me off my car was gone,...

Uncle Doug showed me the first real camera I had ever seen when I was about 9, his old classic Pentax SLR, and he gave me a book on photography, an interest I continue to have to this day. He told me more than once that he felt he and I were a lot alike and I think he was right. I will miss our long-running email conversations and his helpful advice and encouragement.