WHITE RIVER JCT., VT — Doug Symmes, 73 died on November 28, 2019 after a very long battle with Pick’s Disease, a rare form of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s, In which there is no cure.
Doug was born in Braintree, MA on April 1, 1946 to Russell Wade & Ethel Douglass Symmes. Doug moved to Barnard, Vermont when he was a Freshman in High School and graduated from Woodstock Union High School in 1965. Doug graduated from Boston University in 1969 with a degree in American History. Doug also served in the US Army Reserves.
After college, Doug taught History at Spaulding High School in Barre, VT before moving to White River Jct. to start his life long career in the real estate business. Doug started with Quechee Lakes Real Estate in 1975 and then United Farm with Clayton Adams. In the early 1980’s Doug purchased the location that now occupies the Carriage Shed business on the VA Cutoff Road in White River Junction. At this same time Doug started his own Real Estate business, D.R. Symmes and Associates that he operated from this location in the 1980’s. In the early 1990’s Doug sold this location and relocated his business to the Gillman Complex also in White River Junction until he closed the business in 2015. Doug operated his Real Estate business specializing in the the sale of Land and Commercial Real Estate, Farms & Acreage, Businesses, Industrial and Residential/Vacation Homes. Doug brokered many major properties in the Upper Valley including the White River Junction Courthouse to Lyme developer Bayne Stevenson. Doug was a consultant to Lebanon Businessman Gerald Hoskins for the $2 million sale of the Riverdale Complex and the Mechanic Street business complex, Doug also brokered the sales of the Home Depot in Claremont, NH and the White River Golf Course in Rochester, VT. Doug brokered several restaurant and Inn sales, including Norwich’s Carpenter Street, the Bum Steer and A.J.’s restaurant in White River Junction, Toziers restaurant in Bethel and the Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland as well as several others. Doug is the recipient of many awards and accolades in the real estate business including many multi-million dollar producer awards. In 1987 Doug was recognized by the Valley News as a person Who’ve made a difference to the Upper Valley.
Doug loved to travel to Montreal, London, Washington DC, and especially Saratoga, NY during thoroughbred race season. He loved to golf with his friends Steve Wilson and brother Scott and Bill Musty., he loved good food and vodka martinis, Doug was a big supporter of Hartford High School athletics. Doug always had a new book he was reading covering many subjects from business, politics and biographies with one of his favorites being on Winston Churchill “WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER ” Doug was a Train enthusiast and enjoyed Opera, Jazz, Blues as well as sixties Rock and Roll.
Doug is survived by his sister, Sherry Symmes Mahady; long-time friend and Real Estate Associate Paula Atwood and her sons Daniel Atwood Jr, Dale Atwood, her grand children Emma Atwood, Nicole Hanson and Daniel Atwood III; long-time friend and Guardian in his final years Ron Dwinell, his wife Lynn and his two sons Dillan and Jacob and daughters Jordan and Nedra and many other friends and business associates including Hans Meijer, Brooks Barron, Casey Dennis, Bobby Galvin, David Gilmer and Vincent Jerome.
Doug is predeceased by his parents, his Uncle Doctor Hector Douglass, his niece, Shannon Mahady LeRoux: and his good friend Ron Johnson who he enjoyed a good cigar with.
Per Doug’s wishes there are no calling hours or service at this time. A private graveside service will be held this spring at Silver Lake Cemetery in Barnard.
Cabot’s funeral home in Woodstock, Vermont is in charge of the arrangements