Obituary of Douglas Hilman Evans

DOUGLAS HILMAN EVANS Cohoes-Douglas Hilman Evans, 53 of Cohoes, entered into eternal life on Friday, September 18, 2020 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. Born in Manistee, Michigan on August 29, 1967, he was the son of Hilman Evans and the late Marilyn (Darby) Evans. Doug graduated from Manistee High School in 1986 and Ferris State University in Big Rapids Michigan in 1998 with a degree in professional golf management. He was the Tournament Director & Assistant Executive Director for the Northeastern New York Section of the Professional Golfers of Association since 2004. Overly devoted to his profession he loved his job of serving the Northeastern New York PGA Section and it's PGA members, along with the NENY PGA Junior Golf Association and membership, the Capital Region amateurs and general golf community. Doug helped to develop the NENY PGA Junior Golf Association & Junior Tour from inception. He was certified in USGA/PGA Rules Officiating, a section staff representative at regional and national PGA of America events and meetings Prior to coming to the NENY PGA Section, Doug worked as the Tournament Director for the Connecticut PGA Section from 1998-2003 and prior to that for one year he served as the Assistant Tournament Director in the Michigan PGA Section. Before moving to the administrative side of the golf business, he worked 6 years as an Assistant Professional at the Hartford Golf Club. He loved watching any sporting event and was a fan of the local Cohoes High School Programs from basketball to soccer as well as local college athletics such as U Albany and Russell Sage. He was an avid Green Bay Packer and Detroit Lions fan. Doug loved coaching Cohoes Girls Recreation Softball and volunteering to help maintain Cohoes Recreation softball fields. He had a passion for playing golf, fishing, going for walks, being a great friend, enjoying conversations and laughs with everyone. He had a calm presence and gentle demeanor and was extremely well-respected in the golf community by all. Doug was a tremendous supporter of junior golf and his patience, encouragement, and time spent with young players have positively impacted hundreds of kids during his career with the NENY PGA Section family. He enjoyed the challenge and task of tournament golf course set up. He was a former referee of Catholic Youth Basketball games for the City of Hartford (2000-2004), basketball referee within the IAABO Board 36 Region in Capital Region of New York (2009). He was a member of Up With People and traveled for one year in the United States, Canada, and abroad as a member of an international cast of 18 - 25 year old students representing 17 countries. (1989-1990). Survivors include his loving father Hilman Evans, his dear sister Cyndi (Gary) Osborn of Farwell, MI, his nephew Sam (Melodie) VanderGraaf and their children Gavin and Audrianna, his nephew AJ Solis (Madison Seeley), his niece Nicole Solis (Joe Woodworth) and their children Joey and Bailey. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Friday September 25, 2020 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home 149 Old Loudon Rd. Latham. Masks and social distancing will be in effect and occupancy at any given time will be limited to 40 people. A Service will be held in Michigan at a later date. Donations in memory of Doug to be used to help enhance Junior Golf can be made to the P.G.A. Reach N.E.N.Y. 418 Consaul Rd. Schenectady, NY 12304. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.