White River Junction, VT -  Douglas Hart, 92, died peacefully at home on Sunday, August 20, 2023, with his wife Elaine by his side. Born January 27, 1931, he was the son of Joseph A. and Gladys (Douglass) Hart, grew up in Andover, MA and attended local schools. After graduating from Wesleyan with a BA in psychology, he went to Naval OCS and was commissioned an Ensign. He served on active duty for two years then in the Reserve for six years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. After active duty he earned an MBA at Harvard and went to work at Skil Corporation in several marketing management positions in Chicago and Breda, The Netherlands before moving to Toronto where he was promoted to Vice-President, General Manager for Canada.

He married Patricia Peterkin of Andover in 1954. They had four children, one born in Boston. two in Illinois and one in The Netherlands. After so many moves and when it was time to leave Toronto, he and his wife decided to give their children a hometown, so moved to Fairfield, Connecticut and a job with Homelite Chainsaws located in Port Chester, NY. This marriage ended in 1975.

In 1980 he married Elaine Gustavson of Westport, Connecticut and they settled in Easton, CT. After his last corporate job, Doug concluded his business career with ten years in his own sales and distribution business, in which Elaine joined him after taking early retirement from teaching in New Canaan, CT. In 1995 they retired to Vermont and after renting a house in Quechee they bought 65 acres of woodland and built a log home in Hartland.

This provided the opportunity for Doug to take up tree farming. He also did part-time work for Woodstock Soapstone Stoves, USDA, US Census and Dartmouth College.

His most satisfying retirement activity was with The First Universalist Society of Hartland which he and Elaine joined in 1995. As a long time Unitarian, he was almost immediately invited to serve on the Governing Board subsequently becoming Vice President for a year, then President for two years and then Treasurer in which capacity he served 11 years. His most satisfying accomplishment was, as President, overseeing the addition of a handicap access with elevator, the first structural addition to the church since it was built in 1854.

He fulfilled a lifelong goal when, in his forties, he earned his private pilot's license. He also decided in his forties to make music, especially choral singing, an important part of his life. He gained skill by singing in the choir at The Unitarian Church in Westport, CT and joined Troupers Light Opera Company performing Gilbert & Sullivan, followed by The Fairfield County Chorale, then on to the Connecticut Grand Opera chorus. Once settled in Vermont, Doug performed minor leads in several musical productions with North Country Community Theater, New Wool House Players, Hartland Community Arts and Covered Bridge Players. He sang in the chorus of Opera North for 11 years performing in his first and last years, Tosca, his least favorite of the operas in which he has sung.

He always said that his favorite thing to do in retirement was working in the woods doing selective tree cutting to enhance growth of desirable species, and to produce firewood, the primary source of heat for his home. For several years he was active in - and served as treasurer of - Vermont Coverts, an organization of tree farmers dedicated to managing their woodlands to support wildlife habitat. He also took it upon himself to keep a half mile of the adjacent farm's road border cleared of brush to preserve a pleasant view of the New Hampshire hills. He was also active with Meals On Wheels, Red Apron, and was a forming member of Aging in Hartland.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine (Gustavson) Hart, three sons: Douglass Andrew of Red Lodge. Montana; Barry P. of Larchmont, NY, David A. of Stamford, CT and a daughter, Diana P. of Morris Plains, NJ. As well as a sister, Joanne (Hart) Wood of Hillsborough, NJ. There are also 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Doug was a loving and enthusiastic grandpa and took joy and interest in each of his grandkids.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family, with a celebration of life conducted by the Reverend Paul Sawyer, to be announced at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to The First Universalist Society, PO Box 75, 8 Brownsville Road, Hartland Four Corners, Hartland, VT 05049