Douglas E. Waldmann

Beloved Father, Grandfather, and Brother, Douglas Waldmann, 77, passed away peacefully at Staten Island University Hospital on November 11, 2022. Douglas was born on September 22, 1945 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to the late Ernest and Arlene (Graver) Waldmann. After discovering a corollary to a geometric theorem at Northampton High School, he went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in economics from Penn State University, as well as a master’s degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. Douglas was an antiwar activist in college and a reluctant soldier in Vietnam, and later published a memoir of those experiences. After teaching psychology at Wagner College and Jersey City State College, he went on to have a successful career with the City of New York, retiring as a Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Corrections. The division he led earned a Unit Citation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg after helping to restore communications for the city following the events of September 11. A fond memory from his youth was the three months he spent driving to and homesteading in Alaska with two family friends. Douglas enjoyed birdwatching, tennis, jazz and classical music, reading about the latest scientific breakthroughs, and was involved with the local arts community and the JCC of Staten Island. Early on he was a skier and a sailor. He had also volunteered as an English teacher in S.I. prisons. His sons being the central focus of his life, he was always there to offer wisdom and understanding to them, as well as his sisters, and his many close friends and companions. He is survived by his son Eric and his wife Anne of Staten Island, his son Greg and his wife Ariel of Colorado, his son Mark of Pittsburgh; sisters Lillian Waldmann and twin Nancy and husband Mike; grandchildren Petra and Henry; and close cousin Denny Graver. Following his wishes, his body has been donated for research to a NYC Medical Center. Please send any contributions in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. His memorial gathering will be held Saturday December 3rd at Harmon Funeral Home, Staten Island, New York.