Douglas Christensen

Our beloved husband, father, son and brother, Douglas Driggs Christensen, passed away August 15th, 2022 from injuries sustained in a tragic hiking accident after summiting his 54th 14er (14,000 ft peaks) in Colorado. His life was defined by unbridled kindness, as anyone who ever came in contact with him knows.

Born in Kentucky in 1968, Doug’s family soon moved to Arizona. He was always the teachers pet and the friend everyone wanted. In high school he was an honor student, lettered in varsity tennis, received his Eagle Scout Award, was a senior class officer, and on the homecoming court. In the 80’s, high school homecoming floats were made with homemade paper flowers and measured up to 20 feet tall. Float construction took place at Doug’s house, where the high school kids always wanted to hang out. He was a nationally ranked tennis player, dedicating three hours a day to his sport.

Doug received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University. While there, he continued to feed his athletic passion, climbing in the Utah mountains and skiing on the BYU club ski team. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela where he developed a love for the Latin people and their culture. He took time off from school to live in a small village in Mexico where he taught children who didn’t have the opportunity to attend school. Doug loved children and his life was dedicated to teaching and serving them.

Doug’s desire to become a doctor and follow in the footsteps of his father led him to attend medical school in Guadalajara Mexico. He continued his medical training at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and a Pediatric Cardiology Residency at Emory University in Atlanta. There he published several academic papers and lectured on pediatric cardiology. He met Melanie McAdams at church in Atlanta, and on their first date they went Christmas tree shopping. By the next Christmas they were married. He chose to specialize in a field that would maximize time with his family. He didn’t want to miss a meal, sporting, or musical event. When he showed up in his scrubs at his children’s sporting events friends asked why their dad was wearing his pajamas in public.

Doug’s work colleagues already miss his vibrant personality and his ever present smile. His happiness was contagious. He made work better because he always found a way to make something good out of tough situations.

He insisted on giving Melanie a kiss goodbye every morning when he left for work and when he arrived home. He always loved giving big hugs and never yelled or raised his voice but remained cool, calm, and never angry. Doug was a natural teacher, fixing anything inside and outside the house, inviting his kids to watch and learn. Every Christmas they spent an entire afternoon as a family putting Christmas lights on their 3 story house!

There’s so much to love about Doug. Everyone loved his gentle confidence, his reassuring laugh, his unashamed love of the Gospel and his family, his humble intellect, his ability to fix anything, his athleticism, his gift of noticing someone else’s silent pain, his inability to judge another, and willingness to always listen. He was never offended or took offense. He could change someones heart around with a smile.

Doug is survived by his wife Melanie, children Lance, Russell, Rachel and Trevor. Also parents Anne and Fred Christensen and siblings Stan Christensen (Cathy), Angie Christensen Ball (Ben) and Lindsey Christensen Hale (Craig).

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Timberline Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 7471 Timberline Road, Lone Tree, CO.  Zoom link for remote viewing: https://zoom.us/j/98977184900 Webinar ID: 989 7718 4900

After the service a reception will be held at the Christensen home.

The Christensen Family kindly requests donations to be made to Reach out and Read Colorado: https://reachoutandreadco.org

Family and friends are invited to share memories of Doug and condolences with his family on the Tribute wall below.