Clapp, Douglas Obituary

Dione Hulst '68 said:

Douglas Clapp Obituary
Beloved husband, father, brother and friend Doug Clapp passed away on February 2, 2019 in Monterey, California. Doug is survived by his wife of 33 years, Patti; his sons, Hubert and Devin; his daughters, Katie and Haley; his brother, Richard; and his ten grandchildren, Mackenzie, Noah, Olivia, Penelope, Caylee, Luke, Ellie, Zach, Paul and Dylan.

Doug was born in Ohio and raised by his adoptive parents Hubert and Eletha Clapp in Crookston, Minnesota. Growing up, Doug enjoyed reading, wrestling and playing drums in various garage bands.

Doug started his career as a writer. He was the managing editor for the Crookston Daily Times and then became a columnist for InfoWorld magazine, where he caught the attention of Steve Jobs. Steve invited Doug to Cupertino to chronicle the development of the original Macintosh. His first book, “Macintosh! Complete,” was released as the Mac was unveiled in 1984. Doug continued writing books about the Macintosh, which led him to meet Patti Ryall, who edited his second book, “The Complete Macintosh Sourcebook.” He knew instantly that she would become the great love of his life.

Doug and Patti married in California and moved back to Minnesota to be closer to Doug’s 6-year-old son Hubert, who lived with his mother, Claudia, in Crookston. They grew their family with the addition of Katie, Haley and Devin, who were born and raised in Edina. The entire family loved fishing and spending time at their grandparents’ cabin on Lake of the Woods, Ontario. Doug provided his children a wonderful childhood filled with family vacations to Wisconsin Dells, London, Mexico and Hawaii.

In 2015, Doug, Patti and Devin moved to Monterey, where Doug worked as a technical writer at the DMDC. He loved being close to Katie, Derek and their children, who knew their Grandpa fondly as the person most likely to spoil them with chocolates and make sure they always had a cozy spot set up on his couch.

Doug was an author, entrepreneur, inventor, musician, voracious reader and audiophile, but he will be remembered above all for his kindness, humor and curiosity. He was a true technologist, and an absolute visionary in the way he saw the world. He was ahead of his time in many ways, starting a company that made webcams before Skype and FaceTime were created and an ebook company, Pocket PC Press, before the Kindle and Nook were invented. Doug was eternally drawn to big, interesting challenges that had the potential to enrich people’s lives, and he loved his work.

A man of many talents, Doug joyfully explored the nuances of a wide variety of topics. He had a thirst for knowledge and was always reading: everything from religion, to Greek history, to business theories and fairy lore. He was constantly challenging new ways of thinking.

Doug never shied away from life’s big questions, and would strike up conversations with everyone he met. He was kind to small animals, and especially enjoyed spoiling his backyard squirrels and watching hummingbirds, deer and wild turkeys from his front step. He will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.