Douglas Sisk
Dr. Douglas Sisk passed away on January 10 at the age of 75 after battling cancer for three years. His wife of 50 years, Hendrica, passed away on June 30.
He is survived by his loving daughters, Daena (Sam) Rogowski and Jessica Sisk; his grandson, Joseph Rogowski; and his younger siblings, Carolyn (Karl) Baum and Tom (Pam) Sisk.
Doug was born in Elkhart, Indiana, on August 3, 1950. He graduated from Concord High School in 1968 and went on to attend Indiana University South Bend. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from The George Washington University in 1983. He then began a postdoctoral fellowship as a Humboldt Fellow at the University of Bonn in Germany, finishing his research in 1985.
Doug had several careers throughout his life but always found his greatest joy in education. He taught psychology classes at Indiana University South Bend for two years before becoming a financial planner. In 2002, he earned his teaching license and began working at Marian High School. He retired in 2017 after 15 years of teaching Honors and AP Chemistry. Doug took great pride in his students and found real joy in helping them learn and succeed. Following his retirement, he relocated to Santa Barbara, California, with his wife.
Doug was deeply loved and appreciated for his sense of humor, intelligence, and energy. Conversations with him were never dull. He could debate, joke, or dive into thoughtful discussion on nearly any subject. Besides teaching, he enjoyed road biking, playing and collecting guitars, traveling, coaching his daughters’ sports teams, and getting frustrated while watching Manchester United.
Above all else, Doug valued his family and the connections he made throughout his life. He will be remembered for his curiosity, humor, generosity, and the lasting impact he had on so many people.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. Donations may be made through their website: https://cfsb.org/support-local-cancer-care/giving/.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at a later date. Please contact Jess at jessicasisk1@gmail.com if you would like to receive details once available.
