Douglas Burgess Freeman, of New Glasgow, NS passed away under palliative care at the Aberdeen Hospital, Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016 at the age of 84. Born in Truro, NS, Douglas was the youngest son of the late Lillian (Burgess) and Richard Freeman. The family lived in Truro, Mabou - Cape Breton, Green Hill, Pictou and then back to Truro after the end of WWII where Douglas's father was in Army communications.
Douglas's career in radio and television spanned 69 years. He started part-time in Truro on CKTO at the age of 15. After High School he worked at Annapolis Valley Radio and returned to Truro at the age of 19 as the youngest Program Director in Canada at that time.
It was in Truro where he met Ruth Rand and they married in 1957. The call of the big city then took the newlyweds to Toronto. Douglas worked at a couple of radio stations in Toronto and then became News Director at a station in Tillsonburg. Ontario. They returned to Nova Scotia in 1960 where Douglas was employed at CJCB TV Sydney, NS as Program Director. It was the fall of 1964 when he purchased Hector Broadcasting (CKEC Radio New Glasgow).
Douglas's passion was radio and the music it shared with listeners. He amassed an extensive music library that started when he was a child – 78's, LP's and CD's by the thousand. From this library, over the last 50 plus years on CKEC, he hosted a number of different radio shows featuring music that was not "main stream" at the time. The Concert Hall, Music Til 8, Beautiful Music – to name a few. The longest running weekly show being Music Til 8, airing for almost 40 years. For 50 years, Douglas also featured Handel's Messiah every December on the Sunday before Christmas. He always had a great sense of pride in the community and considered public service an important part of radio and was proud to have Hector Broadcasting make it a priority.
He is survived by his brother, Carl (Muriel Rauch) Freeman , Hudson, Florida; sons: Michael (Angie), New Glasgow and their children Victoria , Rebecca and Alexandria; Stephen (Natasha), Ontario and children Eugene and Julia; Deryk (Juleanna), BC; grandson, Mohammad (Shelley); and great granddaughter, Luna (Victoria), New Glasgow; nephew, Mark (Kathy) Freeman, New York. Douglas is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins in the Freeman, Burgess and Hartley families. He is also survived by dear friend and caregiver, Molly MacKenzie. Douglas was predeceased by his wife Ruth (Rand) and daughter, Shelley.
Visitation will take place at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow, Sunday, August 7, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral service will be held on Monday August 8, at 11am in St. George's Anglican Church, New Glasgow with Rev. Lid Haugen Strand, Rev. Art Bourre and Rev. Dr. Glen Matheson officiating. Burial will be in Heatherdale Memorial Gardens following the reception after the service. Family flowers only. Donations in Douglas's memory can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care.