(from the Half Moon Bay, CA Review)
Dec. 21, 1949 – Dec. 1, 2015
Doug Stow, long a loved presence on Main Street as the owner of The Paper Crane, peacefully passed away in December. He took great joy in life — in family, friends, work, sports, literature and art — and is remembered for his warmth, generosity and sense of humor.
Doug grew up in Michigan with two brothers and two sisters, and parents who nurtured the individuality of each one. He quipped that he could never be a great writer because he’d had a perfect childhood. He made lifelong friends in high school and at Michigan State University and came to California after college for alternate service as a CO at a Christian Science nursing facility in San Francisco. He and Margaret Lindsay met there and were married in 1975.
After a wonderful adventure teaching English in Tokyo, the Stows resettled in San Francisco, where Doug worked at an antiques and collectibles shop in North Beach. Doug became an avid reader of P.G. Wodehouse and joined the Wodehouse Society. After son Robert was born, Doug took up letterpress printing as a hobby. He made it a part of his business when he opened The Paper Crane in 1985, and the family soon moved to Half Moon Bay.
Doug’s love for art and poetry led to collaborations with artists from the Graphic Arts Workshop in San Francisco, printing broadsides for poetry readings at M. Coffee, and serving as a judge for the library’s annual teen poetry contest. The poems of William Stafford struck a deep chord in him, and he cherished the fellowship he found in the Friends of William Stafford.
Doug was a devoted member of the Christian Science Church in Pacifica, and volunteered for many years at the No Strings Attached community breakfast in Half Moon Bay. He delighted in his routine, starting the day reading and writing in local cafes surrounded by friendly faces. He loved people.
Doug is survived by wife Margaret, son Robert, daughter-in-law Amber, and a beloved extended family of Stows and Lindsays.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on March 12 at the Community United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to No Strings Attached, Rich Croce, P.O. Box 2141, El Granada, CA 94018; or to Arden Wood, 445 Wawona St., San Francisco, CA 94116.
Laurel Winkel (1968)
Laurel Winkel (1968)
At our 25th reunion, I had the pleasure of sitting with Doug and 6 other classmates - our team cleaned up on OHS trivia! Though friendly acquaintances in high school, we became dear friends in adulthood, and no matter how much time passed between calls, we easily slipped back into that caring friendship. To receive a heartfelt letter from Doug was a gift, and I treasure my stack of hand-written conversations. It was delightful to travel a few times to CA, staying with Doug, Margaret, and son Robert. (While driving back from a Santa Cruz beach concert one dark night, we subjected Robert to full-throated exuberant recitations of Spanish tapes from Jr. High, "Hola Isabelle, como esta?" "Ay carrrrrrrrrrumba, se me olvido mi cuaderno!") Doug and Margaret created a gentle life that fed their souls, surrounding themselves with loving people and daily patterns. He will forever be missed by an endless list of friends.
Laurel Winkel (1968)
Came across this Vimeo clip from April 2011 of Doug's son Robert talking about their letter press in the family gift and card shop, The Paper Crane in Half Moon Bay, CA. "Preserving the Tradition of Letterpress Printing" And in this scenic You Tube clip, the Paper Crane is at 2:38.
Website: The Paper Crane
Facebook: The Paper Crane