Yvan Rose

I first met Doug as an undergraduate student, busy exploring whether and why I’d want to become a phonologist. I had decided to attend a conference, to get to see more about the field, the people. It was the early 1990s. OT was a very new proposal; ideas were flying high, and some hard feelings too. The tone was clear, and scary to the newbie I was. Until Doug’s talk, that is, who calmly delivered a superb argument about both the theory at hand and the analysis it yielded so naturally. Oh wow, there’s someone actually ‘normal’ in this room, I told myself then — there were more, but he so clearly stood out!

Then came the coffee breaks, and the conference social. This new hero (for me!), his warmth, his genuine smile, immediately jumping into his spotless French to help my poor communication, making me feel like a person who could belong. His kindness and good humour, and this bright spark in his eyes, always. A great storyteller too! I am forever thankful for this encounter. In the years since, many conversations have just continued, at times with Doug’s own protégés, continuously inspired by his groundbreaking (and grounded!) work and intellectual rigour.

Many years later I had the chance to meet him again. This is where I got to know him more as a colleague, and also as a friend. Doug the linguist, but also the globe-trotter, runner, skier, climber, photographer, the father, … also always with Anne-Marie, his amazing wife, they are such an amazing couple!

Wholeheartedly, thank you, Doug, for every little bit of academic focus and boundless humanity you have inspired in me, and so many of us, both personally and professionally, over all these years. Happy retirement — keep enjoying every moment the fullest, as you seem to do so well, always!