Douglas Duncan Freeth of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on October 6, 2024 after declining from Alzheimer’s disease. He is remembered fondly as a devoted family man who never missed his sons’ athletic or academic events and as an engaged volunteer serving many Ann Arbor nonprofits. Doug was 89 years old and was born in New Jersey as the only son of Betty and Douglas Freeth. In February 1964 Doug married Lucia Little and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
Doug spent most of his growing up years in Snyder, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. During high school he enjoyed playing musical roles in several school operettas and was President of the Student Council in his senior year. Following graduation he entered Princeton University, where he served as treasurer of his eating club senior year and graduated in 1958 as a politics major with a minor in European literature.
Postgraduation, Doug joined Marine Midland Bank in Buffalo, where he had worked summers during his high school and college years. After completing the bank’s two-year training program, he was assigned to the national division, which serviced corporations outside of Buffalo. Doug enjoyed several years of travel in that position and rose to the level of Vice President.
In 1969 Doug accepted a position with City National Bank in Detroit. He and Lucia moved to Grosse Pointe where they lived for 14 years. During that period City National Bank was acquired by First of America Bank headquartered in Kalamazoo. In 1983 Doug transferred within the company and moved to Ann Arbor. In 1990 Doug was named President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until retirement in 1998.
Doug was active in many local Ann Arbor organizations. He spent six years on the board of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and four years on the Washtenaw Community College Foundation Board, where he was Chair for one year. He was a member of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Foundation for six years with two years as Chairman. He also served on the board at Greenhills School for four years, two of which he was Chairman of the Board. In addition, Doug was a charter member of the Glacier Hills Foundation where he served for five years and chaired the scholarship committee for employees of Glacier Hills. Upon retirement, Doug joined the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor where he took an active role in overseeing the Emeritus program and assisting in establishing its guidelines.
Doug is survived by his wife Lucia and their two sons, Tim (Stephanie) of Ann Arbor and Andy (Emily) of Hamilton, New York, and four teenage grandchildren, Clara and Dillon Freeth of Ann Arbor and Teddy and Eloise Freeth of Hamilton, NY.
Doug shared his love of sports and travel with his family, including attending countless University of Michigan football games and taking family vacations to the National Parks. Doug and Lucia enjoyed memorable international trips in retirement including Scandinavia, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Croatia, Hong Kong and China, with Sydney, Australia being Doug’s favorite city. Doug spent many days on the golf course with family and friends. He particularly cherished his time on the golf courses at the Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona, where he and Lucia enjoyed spending winters in the Arizona sunshine after retirement.
A private reception was held for family and friends on Sunday, October 20. Doug will be interred in Cranbury, New Jersey.
The family is deeply grateful to the staff and caregivers at University Living and Arbor Hospice for the care Doug received in his final year. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Freeth Family Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. Doug and Lucia established the fund in 2002 to support academic and athletic excellence at Huron High School.
