James Douglas Haigney, affectionately known as Doug, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2023, in Hudson, NY, after a long battle with heart and kidney disease. Born on April 24, 1948, to Millicent and Douglas Haigney Sr, he was the oldest of the five children they raised on Dearborn Ave in Rye.
Doug was the cherished husband of Jenny Yannuzzi, who predeceased him in 2017. He was also the oldest brother to Peter Haigney and his wife Kathleen, his sister Patricia Smith and her husband Spencer, his brother William Haigney and his wife Andrea and his sister Sue, who also just passed away. He had a special place in his heart for his five nieces and nephews — Brendan, Lauren, Alexander, James, and Katherine, as well as his seven grand nieces and nephews, Lana, Colin, Vivienne, Smith, Brooke, Nico, and Noah.
Doug spent his entire career with the Westchester County Department of Public Works working as a Certified New York State Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator in Rye and Mamaroneck. He was respected and valued for his hard work and over 30 years of dedicated service.
Outside of his professional life, Doug had a passion for animals, family, neighbors, and cars. His cats , Nicky, Sammy and Baby, were his constant companions, and he took great pride in caring for them. A story his family likes to tell about him was the day he collected –in his shirt– dozens of Monarch butterflies behind the Milton Point firehouse to surprise his father. When he got home he opened his shirt and announced he had struck gold…and of course he had!
Doug was a loving and protective figure always ready with a joke or a wild story. His love for his family, neighbors and even complete strangers was evident in the countless hours he spent trying to be of service to them. He would literally give his shirt off his back to anyone who might need it, so much so that he often had nothing left for himself. And indeed when he passed he literally had nothing left to give–he had given everything away.
His fascination with cars was also a lifelong interest, and he was known to spend hours tinkering with them and discussing the merits of various models.
Doug was best described as loving, funny, and selfless in a world that often didn’t understand him and his generosity. His love for those around him was palpable, as was his booming laughter (often at his own jokes!). His selflessness was evident in the way he always put others before himself, offering help and support whenever he thought it was needed.
We will miss you Dougie.
There will be a wake for Doug, and his sister Sue, at the Graham Funeral Home In Rye on December 8, 2023 from 4 to 7 PM, followed by a funeral mass at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye on December 9 at 10 AM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
