Richard L Doughty
Born April, 4th 1938
Died December, 16th 2014
Dick grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and was a talented athlete. He played tennis and basketball at Fremont High School and later attended the University of California at Berkeley where he was a member of the 1959 NCAA championship basketball team. Following the 1960 season, Dick was drafted by the New York Knicks, but decided to forgo a professional basketball career for one in social services.
Shortly after college, Dick traveled to Indonesia as a member of the initial group of Peace Corp volunteers. While in Indonesia he coached basketball and taught English. He also met his future wife, Nadrah, and they returned to the bay area in 1965.
Dick continued his work in the social services field beginning what would
become a 20 year tenure with the YMCA. His work as regional director took him to Boston and eventually the Pacific Northwest where he would live for the remainder of his life.
After his time with the YMCA, Dick worked with the Job Corp, College Bound Student Athletes, and the Driver Training Group Swerve. Teaching was a true passion for Dick. Throughout his professional career he was dedicated to working with and making a positive impact on the lives of young people.
Dick Doughty was an extraordinary father and grandfather. He always said, “Time is our most precious commodity, be careful how you spend it.” He spent countless hours with his son and later his grandchildren playing games, reading stories, and nurturing a love of sports. It was evident by how he spent his time that he loved his family. His family loved him. He will be greatly missed.
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7 Responses to “Richard L Doughty”
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I love you dad. Thank you for always being there for me.
-Brian
My dear friend. Your above the fold intelligence, competitiveness, kindness and witticism remain close to my heart. When we spoke several weeks ago it made my day. Recollections of times together as friends and teammates wherein serious challenges were part of the landscape were momentarily diminished by your perception of the ever present hilarity which surrounded specific events. Coach Newell is undoubtedly lecturing you at this very moment on any number of incidents between you and him. My recollection is you took the high road, interpreting what should be done to improve team performance, his health and your off-court activities. You were the only one who could get away with this tactic with the Coach. The rest of us would have been exported to Siberia.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Bob Dalton
I met Dick in 1965 when, as a Cal undergrad, I went to Stiles Hall looking for some community work in Berkeley. Dick placed me as a tutor in a middle school and later assigned me to mentor a gifted Berkeley High minority student. But above all I cherish the conversations that I had with Dick about basketball (at my urging) and life. Dick was a humble man and an honest man who had a great influence on me. Although I did not see Dick again after my Cal years, I was very sad to hear about his passing away. My condolences to Dick’s family and friends at their loss.
I am saddened to read of Dick’s death. I grew up with Dick, meeting him at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church in Oakland. When I was in high school Dick and I decided to learn to play tennis and we spent most summer days after my sophomore year at Dimond Park perfecting our games. Neither of us took lessons. Dick, with his booming serve, was good enough to take 3 games off Earl Bumgardner, ranked first in the state, in a match against Oakland High.
He and I both joined the Peace Corps. What I cherish most about Dick was his involvement in making the world a better place to live.
Al Peters
Many fun times also spent at Sequoia School and Davie Tennis Stadium in Oakland…..time really flies. So sorry to see that you’re gone my friend – a real loss. Dick Whittier, Albert Peters, Alan Hops and others will also feel the loss. You were one of the most giving individuals I ever met……and you put up with me!
Dick and i were friends and colleagues as YMCA professionals. Dick was gifted with insightfulness and humility. We were both in the Boston area when he urged human services agencies to work together daily with an unquestioned unity so ably accomplished during a recent disaster. When Dick was in the Pacific Northwest he enjoyed visiting our student YMCA at WSU. He was so comfortable with the students and such a good listener. While Dick stretched over one of our living room chairs my wife asked if he had played basketball. Dick said, well the coach couldn’t see a student walking across campus with my height and not play on his team. Wonderful person, natural leader. With grateful memories, joe kooyers.
i never met you grandpa, but i can feel grandpa’s very good figure, in August12th,2023 i meet grandma Nadrah your son Brian R Doughty and your grandson Andrew Doughty at Palembang (Indonesia), they were kind and they worked out…. Hug and much love from me DAVID