Douglas McGilvray

Douglas Bean McGilvray, of Wayne, New Jersey passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at home surrounded by close friends and family. 

Born to Elizabeth and Dugald McGilvray in 1946, he was a proud graduate of Montclair High School, class of 1964. His love of music was a lifelong journey that took him from playing a variety of instruments to becoming an avid decades long Drum Corps supporter. At MHS he sang in Madrigals, played in the orchestra and band (clarinet) and was a member of the soccer and track teams. In his younger years he loved spending time in the woods and swimming in the lake at the family’s summer house. 

This sparked his lifelong love of trees. He took a wild tract of land in western Pennsylvania, planting groves of trees that he grew from seed and carving lush meadows out of wild brush. His soft spot for all things living showed as the deer would gather at the sound of this truck pulling up the drive waiting for the cracked corn he would purchase for them at the local feed store.

An Eagle Scout with Troop 2 Bloomfield, Doug led the troop through major changes within the unit. Working for eight summers at Fire Place Lodge, a girls’ camp in East Hampton, NY, found him forging lifelong friends and an abundance of memories. 

A Chemical Engineering major at the University of Maine gave him the education needed to pursue a career with the insurance industry, traveling around the world.  Working alongside the underwriters, he inspected a variety of facilities from mines to atomic plants providing feedback in safety and fire protection. In retirement, he volunteered as an advisor to applicants regarding benefits of the various programs of the Engineering Department at U. Maine. He started his career at American Factory Insurance out of the Pittsburgh office. 

Taking a position at AFIA moved him back to New Jersey. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, he lived a second life around the world both at work and play. Doug retired from Zurich Insurance, continuing to travel the globe many times landing on his lanai on Maui with his wife, Lorraine, finding time for a round of golf.

As a volunteer fireman with the Lyndora Volunteer Fire Company in Butler Pa., it was the beginning of an over 50-year commitment to protecting his community. Moving to Wayne, NJ in 1977, he joined Fire Company #2 beginning a long-distinguished history. He served as President and Secretary and was responsible for the filling of air tanks for the 5 fire stations in Wayne. His engineering background was a natural fit for the team charged with building and inspecting new fire trucks for delivery. An exacting man, the manufacturers soon learned to follow all the agreed upon plans. 

In 1998, he rejoined the Boy Scouts, this time with Troop 13 Montclair to assist his nephew’s troop’s quest to go to Philmont. A bucket list item for Doug, he readily agreed to serve as assistant scoutmaster for the trek. He continued to attend additional Philmont treks, Floodwood High adventure canoe treks, trips to England with the troop, and overnights. He also served the council as a merit badge counselor and as a mentor to many Eagle candidates for the next 27 years. Since Camp Glen Grey changed to an independent camp, Doug served as a campmaster and was inducted into the Old Guard of Glen Grey.

After being introduced to Drum Corp in high school by his band director, he became an ardent admirer and loved nothing better than spending a summer evening watching the intricate choreography and listening to the blend of horns from some of the most talented young people in the country. His ability to remember the music played year after year and special qualities of each piece, be it time or key changes, by his favorite corps was amazing.  He traveled all over the country “catching a show” or attending the 3-day championships each August. Life would have been perfect if he had been able to travel by train to each of the shows.

Doug was a terrific person in so many ways. If you were a friend, you were a friend for life. If you were a neighbor, you knew you could call on him for help and it would be cheerfully given.

He was a son that his parents could depend on especially in their golden years. The best brother anyone could ask for, he had the distinction of being born in the middle of two sisters and was a strong support for his sisters and brothers-in laws. He was a terrific uncle who took a special interest in each of his 3 nieces, 5 nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews. Doug began researching the family tree and soon had 17 pages spanning over 17 feet when opened.

He leaves behind his wife of 37 years, M. Lorraine, his sisters Jean Watson Esselink of New Britain, Ct. and Liz Hemminger of Montclair, N.J., brothers-in-law-Paul Hemminger, Michael Machette of Wharton, N.J. and sisters-in-law Denny Pizarro and Pat Sanford of Summerfield, Fl. and their families.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to P.O.L. Fire company #2, P.O. Box#1, Wayne, N.J. 07470.