Douglas George Druchunas, 82, of Pleasant Valley, NY, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after a brief illness. He was born on May 17, 1944, in Queens, NY, the son of the late Anthony C. and Frances U. (Melkunas) Druchunas. As a child growing up in the 1950s, Doug was a staple of the sandlot. Playing baseball was like breathing air, and it defined his childhood. He was brought up in a loving household that instilled in him the importance of family and friends, and he always had a faithful dog by his side. Doug graduated from Herricks High School and went on to earn a degree in civil engineering from New York University. After graduating, he declined a draft deferment and served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Doug served with distinction as a member of the U.S. Army’s 92nd Engineer Battalion in Long Binh, South Vietnam, as a 1st Lieutenant. For his honorable service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He worked as a professional engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation for 34 years, retiring from Planning and Program Management.

Above all else, Doug was a family man. He met his wife Pat while visiting his sister Betty at her nursing school. They married and started a family in the Hudson Valley. He was a proud father of four who worked hard to instill strong values in his children and to create a home where they felt safe and loved. He took pride in that home and in the fact that it became the gathering place his family returned to over the years for barbecues, holidays, or just a coffee break to share the latest news. Doug lived an active lifestyle and had many hobbies. While his children were young, he coached their softball teams, and he spent time with friends playing volleyball and softball and bowling. He was an avid cyclist and loved to run.

Outside of sports, Doug was best known for his photography. He had a keen eye and a love for the process. He also enjoyed reading, woodworking, roasting coffee, and listening to music. A history buff, he followed current events closely, and he was a humble artist who dabbled in drawing and painting. He took pleasure in simple things like mowing his lawn, sitting on the veranda, and going for drives on the back roads.

After 40 years of vacationing in Maine, he considered himself a part-time resident. He was a faithful Yankees fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of anything baseball. True to New York to the very end, he was also a Jets fan, believing that if only all our hearts beat in unison, victory would one day be theirs.
Doug was a character: always punctual, reliable, and true. He had a great sense of humor and a flair for telling family stories. In his later years, some would say he was fiercely independent, stubborn, and opinionated. A lovable grump, he was also a sentimental soul. He considered himself plain vanilla, but he was anything but.
He is survived by his children: Jennifer Cocozza (Anthony) of Highland, NY; Mary Jikhars of Hyde Park, NY; Michael (Alice) Druchunas of Cortlandt Manor, NY; and Emily (Jonathan) Bialek of Gilsum, NH. Also surviving are seven grandchildren — Tim (Megan), Dan, Cel, Nate, Sam, Owen, and Gabe — as well as his longtime friend and former spouse, Pat Druchunas, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Doug was predeceased by his sisters, Frances "Honey" Druchunas and Elizabeth “Betty” Giedraitis.

Visiting hours will be held at Allen Funeral Home, 1605 Main St, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Interment will follow at Washington Hollow Cemetery, 2510 US-44, Salt Point, NY 12578.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to bloodcancerunited.org/veterans or peachhillpark.org/become-a-friend.