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Dr. Douglas J. Koertge, age 79, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2022. Douglas was born May 1, 1942 in Olney, Illinois, the son of Wilson T. and Ethel (Jaques) Koertge.
Alice Rainey Berry, a colleague, posts: it is with great sadness that I share the news of Dr. Doug’s passing. Dr. Douglas J. Koertge known to those who worked with him and loved him as Dr. Doug passed peacefully on Sunday, February 27, 2022. He would have celebrated his 80th birthday this April. Thankfully, John Yorke was by his side when he passed. During what seems to have been a lifetime of pain and discomfort, his final moments were peaceful and pain free.
Dr. Doug spent the last few years as a resident of The Pointe at Kirby and the staff cherished his wit, humor, and as they told it, his ability to keep people in check. They were all very emotional about his passing.
Dr. Doug joined the University of Memphis faculty in 1975 as the Costume Designer and made a deep and lasting impression on hundreds of students even after his retirement in 2007. He was truly an artist! Another of his passions was translating and directing the classics which he did many times during his career. He will be greatly missed.
Below is Dr. Doug’s bio from the Elegies program. Elegies (March 2007) was his last design at the University of Memphis.
Dr. Douglas Koertge (Costume Designer) received his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1973. He joined the University of Memphis faculty in 1975 and serves as Costume Designer, Consultant, and Stylist for the department. His teaching specialties are in the areas of costume design, costume history, period styles and rendering. Doug has designed over 150 productions for professional and educational groups, including the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Wisdom Bridge Theatre, and Opera Memphis. For nine seasons he was the Costume Designer for the Georgia Shakespeare Festival. He was the first recipient of the Creative Research Award from the U of M and has won multiple awards for both design and directing. He recently designed the costumes for the world premiere of Hanging Fire at Florida Stage. He is a member of SETC and USITT.
Information from University of Memphis Theatre & Dance Alumni Club facebook page & Memphis Funeral Home, Memphis, TN
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Mary Alice Resor (Hart) (1960)
So sad to hear of Doug's passing. He was a dear friend all through our high school years. We were on yearbook staff together and worked together sewing costumes for My Fair Lady at Eastern Illinois. I'll never forget the skit he and Carol Smith did in our high school French class. He played a waiter - complete with Hugh menu and towel over his arm, waiting on Carol. The menu was “Beer and Pretzels”. The whole class and the teacher cracked up!
Ann Weesner (King) (1960)
I've known Doug since we were little tots. Then we attended SS together along with our parents. When school days arrived we continued to be friends. I believe the last time I saw Doug was at our Graduation. He was jolly soul and was lots of fun. Besides his acting and many other things he loved to do as I remember he loved to cook and bake. He loved life.
Wayne Smith (1961)
Doug was a creative genius. He and my sister Carol and several other students at Eastern were a tight group of very smart, very creative brainiacs. I was permitted peripheral membership when I arrived there. They were the lierati, no doubt about it!