Obituary of Douglas Stephen Hyde

Douglas Stephen Hyde - Obituary 

On June 10, 2023, Douglas Stephen Hyde, age 82, passed away peacefully with family by his side at Great Falls Assisted Living in Reston, VA.

Steve was born in 1941 in Wilmington, DE to parents George A. Hyde and Helen McCarthy Hyde. He was the youngest of five children, which included older brothers George, John, Arthur and sister Elizabeth.

He spent his formative years in Newark and New Castle, DE where he enjoyed playing football, basketball and baseball. Like most boys growing up in the area, he developed a passion for Philadelphia sports, specifically the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Athletics – an unwavering devotion that lasted his entire life.

Steve attended Tower Hill School for thirteen years. There he captained the basketball and baseball teams and was one of the best football halfbacks in the state. He was also the sports editor of the school paper. After graduating in 1959, he attended Williams College (MA) and majored in American History and Literature. He played football and captained the baseball team. To say that athletics were a big part of his life is an understatement.

In 1962, he met Sally Wright at a party in Seattle, WA, and in 1965, they were married. She then joined him in Missouri where he had begun his lifelong career in teaching and coaching at St. Louis Country Day School (1964-74). There he taught MS math (briefly!), MS history, coached varsity football and baseball and was Director of Admissions for three years.

Steve returned to Delaware in 1974 after accepting the head football coach position at his alma mater, Tower Hill. He moved back to Wilmington with Sally and their three young children – Michael, Alix and Katie. During his 33 years at Tower Hill, he taught Upper School U.S. History and AP U.S. History, as well as provided college guidance to rising seniors. Steve served as the head varsity football coach from 1974-88. As the head varsity baseball coach (1981-2000), he led the Hillers to the 1987 state title – the first for Tower Hill. After his retirement in 2007, Steve was deeply humbled to be inducted into the Tower Hill School Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

In the winter of 2014, Steve and Sally retired to Williamstown, MA, where he relished being back in the Purple Valley and was able to attend all the sporting events Williams College could offer.

Steve had the best laugh, a great sense of humor, a love for Mel Brooks movies, Broadway showtunes and international travel. And he never met a margarita he didn’t like. He adored his dogs (six throughout his adult life) and going on family road and camping trips. An avid church-goer, Steve enjoyed reading scripture at Christ Church (DE) and St. John’s (Williamstown). He was a bookaholic with an extensive home library and an encyclopedic mind for sports trivia. His favorite place was at the family cottage on Lake Temagami in Northern Ontario.

His greatest love and loyalty was towards his family. Having grown up one of five children and raised three of his own with Sally, family was always a constant throughout his life. After becoming a grandfather, he thrived in the sweet chaos of the holidays, Sunday dinners and family vacations. “Grumpy” was extremely proud of his six grandchildren and lit up whenever they were around (except on Eagles game day, when silence was mandatory.) 

Steve’s family will continue to celebrate him by singing along to Motown tunes, relaxing in the summer sun on the dock, cheering for the Birds in the fall and Oakland A’s in the spring, and savoring the moments spent together and with friends.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sally, his brother John M. Hyde, son Michael (Joleen) Hyde, daughters Alix (Bill) Barrale and Kate Hyde, grandchildren Maggie Rorke, Jude Rorke, Lily Rorke, Bridgett Hyde, David Hyde and Asher Barrale.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, 505 Buck Road, Wilmington, DE, on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made in Steve’s memory to the Hyde Family Scholarship Fund at Tower Hill School or to the Alzheimer’s Association.