In Memory

Douglas McDermott - Class Of 1954

Douglas McDermott

Douglas McDermott, a founding faculty member of the Theatre Department at California State University Stanislaus, died Friday, February 19, 2010, at Emanuel Medical Center of prostate cancer.  McDermott was 73 years old.

The only child of Thomas McDermott and Marie Louise Williams, he was born in Los Angeles and educated at Pomona College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Iowa.  He  began his teaching career at the University of California, Davis.  He came to Turlock as one of the founding faculty of the Theatre Department.  During his 30 years at CSUS he taught history of the theatre, directed plays, and was a founding member and later director of the University's first Honors Program.  He was also an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the School of Theatre, Film, and Dance at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.  An authority on the history of the American stage, he was the author of numerous articles.

He is survived by his wife of more than 51 years, Nelda Hooper McDermott; his children Julia Swanson-McDermott, Lisa McDermott (Tim McClary), James McDermott, Pamela Norris (Jeff), Monika McDermott (David Jones), and David McDermott; 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his infant son Thomas McDermott.

Modesto Bee, February 23, 2010