Remembering My Father, Douglas Fuller (1943-2015) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 09-06-2015, 07:00 PM

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.

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

Theda Bara · 09-06-2015, 07:03 PM

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

Vahan · 09-06-2015, 07:22 PM

My deepest condolences to you, Todd.

Michael cole · 09-06-2015, 08:13 PM

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

Mr. Television · 09-06-2015, 08:35 PM

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.

Zoneboy · 09-06-2015, 08:47 PM

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.

gidgetgrape · 09-06-2015, 09:50 PM

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

Family Ties Forever! · 09-07-2015, 12:40 AM

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.

Bonniegirl · 09-07-2015, 12:56 AM

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!

ponytail · 09-07-2015, 06:13 AM

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

OH Nuts! · 09-07-2015, 06:59 AM

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.

80sTrivia · 09-07-2015, 07:41 AM

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

robyrob · 09-07-2015, 10:10 AM

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.

Penny Lane · 09-07-2015, 12:57 PM

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!

yankeesrj12 · 09-07-2015, 01:06 PM

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

09-06-2015, 07:00 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,677	Remembering My Father, Douglas Fuller (1943-2015) 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. Two Legends: My Dad and the real home run king - Henry "Hank" Aaron
	Last edited by TJ; 09-07-2015 at 07:18 AM.

09-06-2015, 08:35 PM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	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.
	__________________ Sonny

09-06-2015, 08:47 PM	#6
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,380	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.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

09-07-2015, 12:40 AM	#8
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	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.
	__________________ Jenny

09-07-2015, 07:41 AM	#12
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time of sadness, TJ...
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

09-06-2015, 07:03 PM	#2
Theda Bara Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 7,154	My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am very sorry

09-06-2015, 07:22 PM	#3
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	My deepest condolences to you, Todd.

09-06-2015, 08:13 PM	#4
Michael cole Henry Winkler Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 06, 2015 Location: Webster, Pennsylvania Posts: 761	I'm so sorry to hear that. May your father rest in peace.

09-06-2015, 09:50 PM	#7
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	Todd, I'm very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. Your tribute was beautiful.

09-07-2015, 12:56 AM	#9
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,715	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!

09-07-2015, 06:13 AM	#10
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	I am so sorry for the loss of you father. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

09-07-2015, 06:59 AM	#11
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	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.

09-07-2015, 10:10 AM	#13
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,189	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.
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

09-07-2015, 12:57 PM	#14
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,183	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! Attached Images
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

09-07-2015, 01:06 PM	#15
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Thank you for sharing your memories of him.