DOUGLAS VETTER

VETTER--Douglas G. St. John's University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., St. John's School of Law Dean Michael A. Simons, the University's Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, and the entire St. John's community mourn the passing of our esteemed alumnus, Douglas G. Vetter. A double alumnus of St. John's (St. John's College and St. John's School of Law), Doug came from a family with deep St. John's roots. His mother, Virginia Nash Vetter, was an alumna and worked at the University, and all five of his siblings - Virginia, Cathyanne, Richard, Gregory, and Susan - are St. John's alumni. His mother and father, Richard C. Vetter, Sr., were awarded the St. John's Spirit of Service Award in 2019 posthumously. Doug accepted the award on their behalf. Doug first made his mark in the tech industry as a lawyer for IBM. He then went west, bringing his keen intellect and business acumen to Apple. There, over the next 15 years, he worked as lead counsel for the company's worldwide sales channels and then headed its Products & Services Legal Group. As busy as he was 3,000 miles away, Doug kept close ties with alma mater and supported students with extraordinary generosity. He was always one of the first alumni to donate to the School of Law's annual Public Interest Auction, which funds opportunities for students to work in the public interest. And when he was in town, he never hesitated to meet - and share a meal - with students, who loved to hear about his professional journey. Through Doug, St. John's School of Law students also got to work at Apple during the summer. It was one of the most sought-after internships the School of Law offered, and Doug provided a warm welcome to Sunnyvale year after year. His immeasurable impact on students is also manifest in the School of Law's Theodore T. Jones Fellowship Program benefitting Black applicants, which Doug supported with a recent major gift. While he is gone much too soon, Doug leaves a lasting legacy at St. John's, where he served on the University's Board of Governors. Years ago, he established a scholarship at the School of Law in his parents' name, as well as a scholarship in the Vetter family name. And now, his dedication to our institution and its students will live on in the new Douglas G. Vetter '88C, '91L Memorial Scholarship established by his family and friends. Our deepest sympathies go to Doug's family and loved ones. May he rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing.