DOUGLAS WARD LIER April 25, 1931 – March 26, 2016
Capt. USNR-Retired Douglas Ward Lier, longtime Los Alamos resident, athlete and community volunteer died March 26th, 2016, from renal cancer. He was nearly 85 years old.
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin April 25, 1931, he spent his summers waterskiing and winters ski jumping. Doug graduated with a Physics degree from St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota. Serving as Naval Nuclear Weapons Officer during the Korean War, after spending time at Sandia Naval Weapons Facility, he received an assignment in 1953 to Los Alamos where he met his wife, Ruth Helmick. They married in Des Moines, Iowa on December 28, 1957 during a blizzard.
His 34-year career at LANL started in 1957 as experimental research staff physicist in P and J Divisions. His final position with the Director’s Office was creating the SARA program, bringing Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine & Coast Guard Service Academies science talent to Los Alamos.
Honored along with Ruth in 2012 as Los Alamos Living Treasures, Doug’s love for Los Alamos was immeasurable. Doug was an early member of the Los Alamos Ski Club. The move from Sawyer’s Hill to Pajarito Mountain occurred during his club presidency. He helped establish East Park Pool and Barranca Mesa Pool. Doug’s love of water and sports extended into participating in Masters Swimming, the LA Mini-Marathon and LA Triathlon (he retired as the oldest solo Triathlon participant). Doug also continued skiing well into his 80’s.
His interests were broad, volunteering his time in his beloved Los Alamos including Los Alamos Geological Society, International Folk Dancers and Los Alamos Mountaineers. Active in the Boy Scouts since youth, he chartered Boy Scout Troop #193, and served as their Scoutmaster. He was a long-time member of the LA Toastmasters and an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
After retiring from the lab, Doug and Ruth travelled extensively around the globe, sharing their experiences with digital presentations at the senior center. (For 25 years, Doug shared his love for sailing by traveling the Caribbean aboard their favorite “Windjammer” tall ship, the S/V Mandalay). Doug especially enjoyed singing with the Lads of Enchantment Chorus and Quartets. He loved solving customers’ home repair problems at Metzger’s in Los Alamos. His favorite getaway was camping in their Volkswagen EuroVan and volunteering at Heron Lake State Park.
Survivors include his wife of over 58 years, Ruth, daughter Kari of Los Alamos, son Eric and wife Susan of San Carlos, CA, and grandchildren Christopher and Lauren, sister Synneva Lier Tellekson (Wayne) of Minneapolis, MN, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Carmen (Wold) Lier, sister-in-law, Lois Helmick Hobson and brothers-in-law Bert Helmick, and Robert Helmick.
A Memorial Service Celebrating the Life of Doug will be held on Thursday, April 14, at 11:00 A.M. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, 2390 North Road. Internment will be in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
The family extends special gratitude to his hospice nurses and caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice, the Betty Ehart Senior Center or LA Visiting Nurses.