Leroy Douglas was raised in Wyandanch, NY.
He attended West Babylon schools and graduated in 1960. “Roy” went on to attend Dowling College for his undergraduate degree and earned his master’s degree from New York University.
An avid reader and lifelong learner, Roy began to teach in the New York City school system in the 1960s. He taught a variety of courses, including AP American History and United States History Regents for many years in the Bronx and Queens. Roy worked with the Gilder Lehrman Institute to expand the AP program in different school settings. After a long and very successful career, he retired in 2003.
Roy had many interests outside of his teaching career. He loved the time he spent supporting Dowling College and the Republic Airport Historical Society. Through his work, Roy spent many years writing a variety of articles for numerous publications. He coauthored a book about the Republic Airport manufacturing in the later 20th century which was published shortly after his death in March of 2016.
Roy became involved in the West Babylon Alumni Foundation and served as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. The committee’s most important work was finding candidates worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Roy would sit, starting with the letter A, and go through the names of graduates and their accomplishments which were listed in the Alumni Directory. This directory holds 15,000 names. Roy would do extensive research and would attempt to contact the individuals. Many alumni found this act of reaching out endearing. His joy in conveying to the committee how many successful
graduates there were gave constant validation to the work of the Foundation.
Gardening was also a passion of Roy’s and he worked in his own garden to create beautiful flowers and grow fresh vegetables. He was known in his neighborhood as the gardener. Among his many interests were traveling, Irish history and his familial home in Donegal, Ireland. Roy was the quintessential family man who adored his wife, daughters and extended family tremendously. For the last 8 years of his life his granddaughter, Neeve, was the center of his world. Roy was the ultimate gentleman and a joy to know.