DOUGLAS SCOTT PETERSEN, lost his battle with metastatic prostate

cancer and passed away peacefully at Christopher House Hospice in

Austin, Texas on December 16 th . His life partner Gail Kitowski and mother

Esther Barker were with him when he passed. He was 70 years old.

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Scott was born and grew up in Dayton, Ohio and worked his way through

Wright State University, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Business

Administration. Like many “rust belt” residents in those years, he packed

his Mustang and moved to Texas – Houston specifically.

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He soon found a position with the international real estate developer

founded by Gerald D. Hines and rose to managerial positions in their

finance/accounting departments, earning a CPA license studying in his

spare time.

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Scott was a pure autodidact and was drawn to seek knowledge of complex

things without the benefit of formal instruction from “experts”. After leaving

Hines in 1992, Scott completed the remodel of his home in Houston,

beautifully refurbishing a couple of bathrooms, moving some walls and

doors, installing a new kitchen and building a deck off the kitchen, all

without having any significant experience in the various skills required.

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After the completion of his remodel, Scott turned to his 36-foot sailboat,

spending weeks installing an air conditioning system that would make the

boat comfortable during the long, hot and humid Texas summers. Scott

was an excellent and experienced recreational sailor, crossing the Gulf of

Mexico multiple times, sailing the California coast to Catlina Island and

participating with friends in local races from Galveston to Veracruz Mexico

and Port Aransas, Texas. Always ready to lend a hand he helped friends

move sailboats from Houston to Florida, New England and to Antigua in the

eastern Caribbean.

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Scott’s other love was mountains. It didn’t matter if they were simply steep

and rocky or covered in snow. Perhaps this interest came from being a

Boy Scout in flat Ohio and living in southeast Texas where there are no

mountains. Scott was an expert skier and was a member of Houston’s

Space City Ski Club and Austin Skiers. He used these associations to

access resorts in North America and Europe many times each season, also taking non-club trips with friends. In the summer and fall, after the snow

had (mostly) disappeared, Scott was still drawn to the mountains,

summiting Mt. Rainier with friends in 1987. He also enjoyed cool weather

and fall color on many hiking and camping trips throughout the West and

Southwest.

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After leaving Hines, Scott filled his time (between the sailing, skiing and

hammering) by reading books and articles about modern portfolio theory

and investment management, effectively gaining the expertise that others

get from spending two years earning an MBA degree. In the following

years, he not only successfully managed his own investment portfolio, but

the financial affairs of Gail and her family, and those of his mother, other

family members and friends.

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Scott made friends easily. His corporate career, ski club trips and working

on his boat in the marina brought him in contact with a cross section of

people who often ended up as participant friends in activities far removed

from how they first met Scott.  Through his generous spirit, he maintained

close friendships with many over more than 40 years.

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Scott met his life partner Gail on a blind date aboard his sailboat, the

Esther B, in 1990 and for the next thirty-four years they created many

memories skiing, sailing and hiking. They especially loved the Grand

Tetons in Wyoming and for three decades made an annual trek there to

take advantage of its magnificent hiking. Scott and Gail were rarely apart

and faced a very difficult journey which began when Scott was diagnosed

with cancer in September of 2023. Scott navigated this last journey with a

positive attitude, courage and determination with Gail by his side.



Scott is survived by a large extended family which includes Gail’s family,

Esther‘s family, and the family of Esther‘s deceased husband Colonel

William Barker. They loved and admired Scott and will feel the loss

profoundly.

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For those who would like to remember Scott through a donation, the family

asks that you consider Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the Tall Ship

Elissa in Galveston, Hospice Austin, or a donation to your local blood bank.

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