Doug Steinke died of AIDS in 1987, and his absence has been felt keenly at the three reunions I’ve attended.
Doug, who played an oboe solo at our commencement exercises, may have been the most illustrious musician in the class. He went on to play oboe and other woodwinds with elite chamber groups over a large part of the West Coast. I’m pretty sure he taught music as well. He also collected “period” woodwinds.
He was probably better known for his distance-running. He and his three older brothers all were runners at South; the eldest, Clayton, was part of an NCAA championship team at U of Oregon. Doug, who wound up at U of O himself, placed seventh at the state cross-country meet during our senior year, a race in which South’s Steve Davidson finished fourth (and the great Steve Prefontaine won).
Doug was best known, however, for his intelligence and kindness, and he was a good leader, as evidenced by his presidency of Russian Club, Tri M (music honor society), and our National Athletic Honor Society chapter. He was a boy of the month and Rotarian of the month during our senior year and he made our class better for each of the six years I knew him.
Thank you, Colin, for the information and memories about Doug. I remember watching the cross country boys practice after school--my girlfriends and I would stand at the rail overlooking the track, watch them take off and wait for them to get back from their practice runs. Doug was a great guy and I'm glad I knew him.
I always remember Doug with a smile. He was the genuine nice guy. He was my desk partner in 5th grade and I carry a reminder of him in the palm of my hand . . . a piece of pencil lead that got there during a silly pencil fight. I do remember the articles in the Statesman about Doug's musical gifts and oboe collection. I had lost touch with him after U of O but never lost my memories of him.
Doug was a fine person and a good friend and to this day, I think of him often, fondly. Russian Club (all three years) was a blast and that was because of Doug (or Demitre, as we called him!) He was the one that suggested we make T-shirts for the Club that displayed a hammer and sickle. We got away with it, too! Although his life was not that long, his contributions were significant and he did bring joy to the lives of others. He is very much missed.
Sometime in the early 1980s, I ran into Doug at a little county store in the tiny rural community on the Columbia River where I lived at the time. I had never, nor since, seen anyone there that I'd known before. So it always amazed me that I should just happen into that store at that moment. As I recall, he was traveling with a small group of musicians to perform somewhere and they'd stopped for some refreshment. I was glad to know he was still involved in his music. His smile was ever sweet and sincere.
Oh Doug, what a laugh he had. Once you got him started, it turned into a sort of wound-up screech...sorry Doug, but it's true! He was a good dancer. I remember a surprise birthday party that was held when we both turned 17...we share the same birth date. The party was at John Seamster's house and I ws totally blown away; completely surprised for sure. I enjoyed Doug's amazing musical ability. I enjoyed his friendship. I have thought about him often. I wish he was still here. Miss you.
I didn't get to know Doug Steinke until after he had left Oregon. I knew that he went to Europe for training as an early music specialist. He learned not only to play the Baroque oboe but to build replicas of them. I met him because he was the friend of a friend. I met him in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started a local Baroque ensemble in 1985 and Doug was gracious enough to play with us, for little to no money, in two of our concerts. What impressed and surprised me was that, besides his performances with prestigious European ensembles, including the Drottningholm Theatre Orchestra and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco, he was willing to play with us for the joy of it. And his artistry was exceptional. I am writing because I came across a few recordings (cassettes) of several performances featuring Doug. This is the first memorial notice that I have found for him. I was trying to find out whether his family, perhaps, might like to have copies of those performances, which are not part of his official discography. Perhaps one of his classmates might still have the needed contact information. I believe one of his brothers might have become a naturopath, but I don't have any specifics. I've also heard of another Music Professor named Steinke who is still living, but he is unrelated. Those are lovely recollections of him on your website. Thank you, Harry Bernstein
Kim (Colin) Seymour
Doug Steinke died of AIDS in 1987, and his absence has been felt keenly at the three reunions I’ve attended.Doug, who played an oboe solo at our commencement exercises, may have been the most illustrious musician in the class. He went on to play oboe and other woodwinds with elite chamber groups over a large part of the West Coast. I’m pretty sure he taught music as well. He also collected “period” woodwinds.
He was probably better known for his distance-running. He and his three older brothers all were runners at South; the eldest, Clayton, was part of an NCAA championship team at U of Oregon. Doug, who wound up at U of O himself, placed seventh at the state cross-country meet during our senior year, a race in which South’s Steve Davidson finished fourth (and the great Steve Prefontaine won).
Doug was best known, however, for his intelligence and kindness, and he was a good leader, as evidenced by his presidency of Russian Club, Tri M (music honor society), and our National Athletic Honor Society chapter. He was a boy of the month and Rotarian of the month during our senior year and he made our class better for each of the six years I knew him.
Sue Proctor (Armstrong)
Thank you, Colin, for the information and memories about Doug. I remember watching the cross country boys practice after school--my girlfriends and I would stand at the rail overlooking the track, watch them take off and wait for them to get back from their practice runs. Doug was a great guy and I'm glad I knew him.Kris Sather
I always remember Doug with a smile. He was the genuinenice guy. He was my desk partner in 5th grade and I carry a reminder of him in the palm of my hand . . . a
piece of pencil lead that got there during a silly
pencil fight. I do remember the articles in the Statesman about Doug's musical gifts and oboe collection.
I had lost touch with him after U of O but never lost my
memories of him.
Jean Baecher (Baecher Brown)
Doug was a fine person and a good friend and to this day, I think of him often, fondly. Russian Club (all three years) was a blast and that was because of Doug (or Demitre, as we called him!) He was the one that suggested we make T-shirts for the Club that displayed a hammer and sickle. We got away with it, too! Although his life was not that long, his contributions were significant and he did bring joy to the lives of others. He is very much missed.Kathy Mason
Sometime in the early 1980s, I ran into Doug at a little county store in the tiny rural community on the Columbia River where I lived at the time. I had never, nor since, seen anyone there that I'd known before. So it always amazed me that I should just happen into that store at that moment. As I recall, he was traveling with a small group of musicians to perform somewhere and they'd stopped for some refreshment. I was glad to know he was still involved in his music. His smile was ever sweet and sincere.Pam Cooley (Newberry)
Oh Doug, what a laugh he had. Once you got him started, it turned into a sort of wound-up screech...sorry Doug, but it's true! He was a good dancer.I remember a surprise birthday party that was held when we both turned 17...we share the same birth date. The party was at John Seamster's house and I ws totally blown away; completely surprised for sure.
I enjoyed Doug's amazing musical ability. I enjoyed his friendship. I have thought about him often. I wish he was still here. Miss you.
Cora Gangware
I didn't get to know Doug Steinke until after he had left Oregon. I knew that he went to Europe for training as an early music specialist. He learned not only to play the Baroque oboe but to build replicas of them. I met him because he was the friend of a friend. I met him in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started a local Baroque ensemble in 1985 and Doug was gracious enough to play with us, for little to no money, in two of our concerts. What impressed and surprised me was that, besides his performances with prestigious European ensembles, including the Drottningholm Theatre Orchestra and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco, he was willing to play with us for the joy of it. And his artistry was exceptional. I am writing because I came across a few recordings (cassettes) of several performances featuring Doug. This is the first memorial notice that I have found for him. I was trying to find out whether his family, perhaps, might like to have copies of those performances, which are not part of his official discography. Perhaps one of his classmates might still have the needed contact information. I believe one of his brothers might have become a naturopath, but I don't have any specifics. I've also heard of another Music Professor named Steinke who is still living, but he is unrelated. Those are lovely recollections of him on your website. Thank you, Harry Bernstein