Douglas James Harwood, 73, of Parrish, died Dec. 7, 2010, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 12 at Griffith Cline Funeral Home, 720 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Fla.
Douglas was born in New Britain, Conn., June 3, 1937, and graduated from Yale University in 1959. He then joined the United States Foreign Service, with which he had a 40-year career, of which most was abroad. His major postings included Venice (Italy), Kinshasa (Congo), Prague (Czechoslovakia; now split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Niamey (Niger), Rome (Italy), Milan (Italy), and Mexico City (Mexico). He then traveled as an Inspector for the Foreign Service to Germany, Venezuela, Congo, Gabon, and Cuba. He was an active member of the American Foreign Service Association and the Yale Club of the Suncoast. His passion for understanding the intricacies of foreign countries and his respect for the customs of others was equaled only by his love of classical music, in particular organ music; he attended performances all over the world.
He married Luciana Flavia Conti in 1965, she died in 1991 they had one daughter. He married Joycene Lee Cole in 1992, and they moved from Washington, D.C. to Parrish in 2004. In his retirement, he learned to fix clocks and enjoyed supporting his wife in her work for the Democratic Party.
Survivors include his wife, Joycene Harwood; daughter, Laura Wittman; brother, John Harwood; as well as four nephews; three nieces; six great nephews; two great nieces; and two great grand nieces.