Doug Freeman, BHS '66 (1948-2024)

 

Douglas Idell Freeman Jr

November 9, 1948 – October 21, 2024

We just received the very sad news that Doug Freeman recently passed away from stomach cancer.

His wife Esperanza wrote,”Doug was diagnosed with stomach cancer in March 2024. When he went to the doctor he was told that he had stage 4 cancer and had metastased in the liver and lung.”

Doug was the son of Douglas and Pauline Freeman. He and his older sister Pat and younger brother Lee grew up in Burbank California and he graduated from Burbank High School in 1966.

Please keep his fmaily in your prayers.

 

Doug is 3rd boy from the right middle row

I personally knew the Freeman kids mostly from Miller Elementary School in Burbank and I have many fun, crazy and happy memories from those days. They each had great personalites and were all very talented. 

Sadly, we lost Pat in 1972 and Lee in 2010 and each is greatly missed by many...

MEMORIES FROM PHIL YOUNG, BHS '65

Remembering Doug Freeman 

 

Doug was one year behind me at Burbank High School, and though his sister Pat was a classmate of mine, I got to know him better through his younger brother Lee (who was married to my sister Chris). Doug, Lee & I shared an old wood frame house on East Verdugo Ave. after I got out of the Navy (April '70). Doug (aka Mellwood Ditworthy) had a unique and infectious sense of humor: he certainly could make me laugh. I've never known anyone like him (and I'm a retired federal Special Agent that has seen a vast array of personalities and behaviors). Though he had this light side, he could also take-care-of-business. This was exemplified when his Mother & Sister were tragically slain on Christmas morning in '72. As I recall, Doug stepped up and was a major planner for their memorial service. 

 

Doug and I also shared a bond as proud "Uncles" to Chris & Lee's son Evan (Freeman) Erickson. He and I live on through our progeny, Evan and his children (and grandchild), and our many beautiful memories we have of Doug long after his departure from this temporal world. 

 

This is a solemn time. Time to mourn, reflect and rejoice that we knew and loved Doug.

My prayers are for his peace and tranquility...