Douglas Staley Gorter

Douglas Gorter died unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism on March 29, 2026, near his home in Delray Beach, Florida. Doug was born March 18, 1958, in Columbus, Ohio, to John William Annan and Karolyn Mumma. He spent the first eleven years of his life in Lake Forest, Illinois before moving to Ithaca, New York.  In Ithaca, Doug excelled at sports, especially hockey, and made many lifelong friends.

After high school, Doug attended Oswego State University, now SUNY Oswego, where he met Linda Zellner, his future wife. They landed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where they raised two wonderful children, Brad and Stacey Gorter. Doug spent his professional career working in sales for various trucking companies. After he and Linda divorced, he retired and moved to Florida where he golfed, swam, lifted weights, and played tennis and pickleball to his heart’s content. While in Florida, Doug found his true professional calling as an usher at MLB Spring Training. He was happy and healthy right up to his unexpected death.

Doug, known as “Stats” to his Sigma Tau Chi fraternity brothers, had, without exaggeration, an encyclopedic knowledge of sports statistics.  He could recite the starting lineups and major statistics from several decades-old baseball teams and knew Brad and Stacey’s sports accomplishments by heart.  Through his career and his retirement, Doug maintained close friendships with his fraternity brothers and regularly attended reunions in New York.

Doug’s true love, other than happy hour light American pilsner (on tap, of course), was fantasy sports, whether football, baseball, or golf.  This season he made the playoffs in all five of his fantasy football leagues, decisively defeating Brad in the semifinals of their shared league. Doug had a wonderful and witty sense of humor and treated everyone he met with kindness. He lived to connect with friends and family and hear about their lives. He always had an encouraging word to say. 

Doug was predeceased by his father Jack and his brother John. He leaves behind his children, Stacey and Brad Gorter and their partners, his mother Lyn Sherman, his Aunt Barbara Annan, his sister Louise Johnston, nieces Lily, Phoebe, Audrey, and Betsy, and many, many dear friends. 

A celebration of life will be held April 25 in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Details can be found in the event on this page.  In the meantime, please channel-flip through sporting events with a cold beverage in your hand and call your loved ones in his honor.

In lieu of flowers, we would welcome contributions to the Cornell University Swimming and Diving Team, the i9Sports Association, or a charitable organization of your choosing that you think he would appreciate.