Douglas Mcternan

It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of Doug McTernan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, brother, friend, coach, and avid runner. After a valiant 18-month battle with cancer, Doug passed away on April 10, 2023 after a week filled with visits and calls from his loving family and close friends. He never lost his spirit, sense of humor, or love for life while fighting this illness with incredible strength and grace.

Doug was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Myles and Ursula and spent his formative years in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He attended Franconia College in New Hampshire and the University of Maine/Orono. He lived in Maryland, New Hampshire, and Maine before settling in Newburyport, Massachusetts after meeting his loving wife, Mary McGuire, in 2000. Together they shared a wonderful life filled with love and laughter and being each other’s strongest supporter.

Doug was a proud and devoted father and grandfather to Dillon and Dillon Gavri of Louisiana and to his bonus daughter, Alexandra Pelan and her husband Sean of Maryland and her children, Jake, David, and Becca Connor and bonus son, Alec Pelan. His niece, Kirsten Deering of Massachusetts, her husband, Geof, son, Tyler Deschamps, and bonus son, Dan Deering, brought so much joy, pride, and love to his life. Doug was also a dedicated big brother to his sister, Amy Costa and her husband, Jim of Massachusetts.

After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico in August 2018, Doug added some very special people to his extended family. As a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coach, Doug held two summer running camps for kids in Northern New Mexico. One of his attendees, a talented young runner and artist, Elizabeth Towle, started training with Doug during track and cross-country off-seasons. He developed a special relationship with Elizabeth, her parents, Tracy and Daniel, her brother Nicko, and her devoted grandparents, Liz and Elmer. Another family Doug held close in his heart are the Schafers. Andrea, Brendan, and their wonderful children, Boone and Meadow. Doug and Boone spent many an hour during the 1st pandemic summer hauling rocks and digging drains to save the backyard from erosion.

Doug excelled in his work at ThermalTechnic, Inc. the company he founded to represent heat resistant alloy fabricators for furnace solutions. He was expert in providing recommendations to increase product service life and in opening new sales territories on the West Coast and in Mexico. As one of his colleagues said, “Doug truly perfected the Manufacturers’ Representative profession.”                                                                                                                                                                                                           

As an accomplished runner, competing in marathons, half-marathons, and road races was Doug’s passion. His dedication and perseverance in developing The Jamii Running Project, a running club for northern New Mexico, and his coaching skills were appreciated by all its members. Jamii allowed Doug to take his love of the sport to a deeper level and he was never happier than when sharing that experience with others.

In addition to his business and athletic accomplishments, Doug had an uncanny ability to solve most any skilled carpentry, plumbing, electrical, or landscaping challenge.  Those skills are evident throughout his Santa Fe home where he designed and built his gym, workshop, and office. He created beautiful landscape features and also solved a potential erosion problem in the backyard. As his son, Dillon, said, “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t accomplish once he put his mind to it…he was just that talented.”

Fighting cancer was Doug’s most challenging marathon. He researched and managed his treatment with the same grit and determination that got him through his many races. He had two excellent teams of Medical and Radiation Oncologists: Olivier Rixe, MD and Bryan Goss, MD of Christus St. Vincent Cancer Center, Santa Fe; Atul Kumar MD and Tom Schroeder, MD of University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque. Rounding out that team was Sheila Beades, ND of NatureMed Integrative Medicine who helped Doug stay strong during multiple chemo and radiation treatments. We were also very lucky to work with Janet Smith, RN of Community Palliative Care of Northern New Mexico who helped him navigate palliative care resources and the transition into hospice care provided by Ambercare. The Ambercare Team provided the perfect combination of compassion, family support, and nursing skills.

We will honor and celebrate the life of this remarkable man who touched the lives of so many at a later date. Doug, your spirit lives on, and you are forever in our hearts.

I hear a voice come on the wind

Sayin’ you and I will meet again

I don’t know how; I don’t know when

But you and I will meet again   

                    --Tom Petty

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Doug:

• Community Palliative Care of Northern New Mexico https://cpcnnm.org/support-us/
• University of New Mexico Cancer Center https://vet.zxk.mybluehost.me/quick-donate/  This donation site is not easy to navigate, so here are some tips:
• Select donation amount, click on NEXT
• Under Select a Fund, find “by Keyword Search “in the drop-down box
• In the Keyword Search field, type in UNM Cancer Center Cancer Research
• Select UNM Cancer Center Cancer Research in the drop-down box
• Complete rest of donation information