Douglas Lowe Sheeran, 61, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away on October 3rd, 2024 peacefully in the arms of his loving family.

Doug was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in New Jersey with his sister, Laura Drane. He graduated from New Providence High School in 1981 and was a member of the Pennsylvania State University graduation class of 1985. He earned his degree in hotel and restaurant management, which anyone who knew him would say was absolutely fitting of his love for making everyone around him happy and cooking the kind of food that people would prefer to any restaurant.

Doug started his career in Richmond Virginia, and would eventually receive the opportunity to transfer to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he became an “islander” and built his life and his family.

In 1994, he welcomed his first daughter, Jen, to the world. Hilton Head also brought him his wife, Viviana. They married on August 4th, 2002. To celebrate their honeymoon, they took a family trip to Disney to bring the family together. While this is not the kind of honeymoon that most couples imagine, it is a clear reflection of Doug’s love for his family. In 2005, Doug and Viviana had their daughter, Lea, and in 2007, they had their son, Connor. It was always joked that Doug must have had some seriously strong genetics, as all three of the Sheeran children are the spitting image of him.

Throughout his lifetime, Doug loved with no reservations and spared no time or energy trying to make the people in his life happy. He found so much joy in attending his children’s sports games. So much so, that he didn’t think twice about being the loudest fan in the stands or singing the national anthem himself when the speakers wouldn’t work. He understood that his most valuable resource was time spent with the people who were important to him. 

Doug was a remarkably hard worker and often made lifelong friends of his coworkers. He was the kind of person to not just get a job done well, but to use his creativity and ingenuity to redefine what “well” actually meant.

Doug found peace and happiness in simple things. Walking on the beach, finding a local coffee shop, and talking on the phone while walking the dog were all things he found special moments in. He loved watching Penn State football and World Cup soccer with his mother Dianne, who passed in July 2021. Her living room couch was always a place of love and togetherness with Doug and her grandchildren.

His buoyant spirit lives on in his family and friends and reminds us to love with abandon. Remaining to cherish his life are his wife, Viviana; children, Jen, Lea, and Connor; sister, Laura; in-laws Beto and Nene, sister-in-law Silvia and her husband Jose Luis, sister-in-law Mati, nieces and nephews, Mercedes, Ramon, Sophia, Sebastian, Julia, Coy, and Will, along with countless friends. Doug will be profoundly missed, but those who knew him can all agree that his love and friendship made a positive and lasting impact on their lives. 

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 25th at 5:00 PM at the Spring Lake Pavilion (231 Seabrook Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926). This will be a casual event and light or colorful clothing is encouraged.