Douglas Fuller passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 72.

My father first showed the signs of Alzheimer's in 2007. He was always a whiz with numbers, but he struggled doing taxes and had problems concentrating that year. It wasn't until 2008 when more symptoms started that we knew something was wrong. He was able to work for another two years until the disease had continued to progress.

His physical health had been pretty good until the past couple of months. In recent weeks he was having problems standing up and swallowing solid food. He was at the VA hospital for 11 days. They were giving him palliative care and treatment for his leg ulcers and feet/skin infections. He developed a little bit of pneumonia about a week into his stay. They gave him some antibiotics and released him last Sunday. A few days later he was gone. I'm thankful his last few days were spent at home around his loved ones. I know he felt our presence of being there with him.

Douglas Thomas Fuller was born on August 3, 1943 in Chicago. He grew up in Summit, Illinois, where he attended Argo High School (Class of 1961). He lived on the same street as Cincinnati Reds baseball great Ted Kluszewski, who also attended Argo. His home was not far from Comiskey Park, so he grew up a big Chicago White Sox fan (although I'm a Cubs fan, check out the photo below). He was a lifelong baseball fan, who was lucky enough to meet Hank Aaron about twenty years ago.

After studying two years at DePaul University, he served in the Army from 1965-1971. He worked as an accountant for AT&T/Lucent Technologies for over 30 years before accepting an early retirement offer. He later worked for Target for over 10 years. His co-workers all thought of him as being dedicated, dependable and the ultimate team player. He was a kind gentleman to everyone he met.

He married his beloved wife, Lois, on October 18, 1969. My parents were blessed to be married for over 45 years. They were best friends and always there for each other. He was a wonderful and caring father to my brother Thomas, sister Lisa, and I. He also had two loving sisters, Joan and Barbara.

Alzheimer's may have robbed him of his memory, but it didn't take our good memories of him. We did everything we could to take good care of him at home the last 7+ years. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease. Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease. Those numbers are staggering and heartbreaking. I hope one day they will find a cure and be able reverse the symptoms of this terrible disease. I think it's hardest for the caregivers. The stress, depression and physical toll it causes is devastating.

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Two Legends: My Dad and the real home run king - Henry "Hank" Aaron

My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am very sorry

My deepest condolences to you, Todd.

I'm so sorry to hear that. May your father rest in peace.

I am so sorry Todd. He sounded like a great man. My prayers are with you and your family during this awful time. God Bless your Dad. :(

Todd, that was a well thought-out and touching remembrance to your father. I know first-hand what it's like to have a loved-one go through life with Alzheimers so I can easily sympathize with you. My sincerest condolences to you and your family.

Todd, I'm very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. Your tribute was beautiful.

I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your father, TJ. That was a very nice tribute you wrote about him. He sounded like a great man, father, and husband. The pictures you posted are nice.
RIP.

Very sorry about your Father. He was a really good man, and your tribute to him was beautiful. Your pictures are so nice and showed the happy times of his life!

My prayers and condolences to you and your family and may your Father RIP!

I am so sorry for the loss of you father. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Todd, I'm really sorry for your loss. I hope the many good memories and experiences you had with you dad will bring a measure of comfort. Please accept my deepest condolences.

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time of sadness, TJ...

I'm very sorry for your loss Todd. We lost my grandfather to Alzheimer's and it was very heartbreaking and painful. You gave a great tribute to him, may he rest in peace.

So sorry Todd! I lost my dad in 2005. It's a difficult thing. May he rest in peace. By the way, I like your photo's! :D

Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Thank you for sharing your memories of him.

Douglas Fuller passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 72.Awe sweetie I am sorry :(

Your dad looks amazing......... I know you loved him very much!!!!!


I am so sorry http://i59.tinypic.com/72tuzr.gif

So very sad to hear about your father. It's really difficult to lose a parent. My dad passed away several years ago from cancer & it was really hard to deal with. But try to think about the happy times you two shared and maybe the sadness won't be so difficult.

So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

That's a beautiful bio you wrote of you father, Todd. I enjoyed the pictures as well. He was a devoted family man. It's very sad that he was stricken with such rotten disease that robbed him of his ability to truly enjoy his family.

I really commend you and your family for keeping your father home for the duration of his illness. I told you how when my parents were ill, I would visit them daily at the nursing home. There was an Alzheimer's wing that I had to pass on my way to their room. The patients there looked so lost and forgotten. I realize that some people can't live at home for various reasons. Just saying that it couldn't have been easy to care for your Dad at home, especially for the last couple of years. To surround him with love and family for what had to be a confusing time for him was an act of true love. You did good.

I hope you're doing well. There's never a good age to lose a parent. He's a lot to miss. You probably started missing him a couple of years ago. My mother lost her faculties almost a year before she died, so by the time she died, I was already missing her.

I am so sorry for your loss and wish your family well, especially your mother. She's experiencing grief that only she knows. Just know that one day your grief will subside and be replaced with beautiful memories of your father.

I am so very sorry for you loss todd you and your family are in my prayers

Thanks to everyone for your condolences and kind thoughts. Special thanks to Janice for her support over the last few years.

It's been two weeks since we lost him. I know it gets easier with time. It helped me deal with my grief to write about him and remember him as a great man and father.

Im so sorry again buddy!!!

I cant imagine what your going thru now :(