Remembering Doug Trout
The last time all seven of Doug Trout’s children ate ice cream together was almost 35 years ago. They were at a Dairy Queen in Michigan waiting at their table when Doug licked all seven of his children’s ice cream cones before handing them over. “He licked about half our ice cream each,” said Lindsay Trout, his daughter. “I remember standing at the counter thinking, ‘Don’t lick my ice cream.’ I think he was full by the time we had all gotten ours.”
Doug Trout’s love of ice cream was the inspiration behind the celebration of his life that took place Sept. 18. Trout’s family took the Jolly Trolley from The Moorings at Lewes to The Ice Cream Store near the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The celebration was planned by his wife, Adele Trout, his seven children and Lauri Weeks, a close friend and the director of resident services at The Moorings.
Adele Trout met her husband in 2007, the year they both moved to Cadbury, now known as The Moorings at Lewes. Doug served as president of the residents’ association at Cadbury alongside Adele as vice president. The two of them worked well together, Adele said. “It turned into a strong friendship, and then we fell in love and got married.”
In his earlier life, Doug was a Presbyterian pastor, the president of Tusculum College, a fundraiser, and business owner of Douglas Trout Associates. Doug loved music, dogs, ice cream and babies, and he worked tirelessly to serve others. Adele was initially drawn to Doug’s passionate and helping personality. “He always wanted to help people. He was an active helper. I loved his spontaneity and excitement. He was ready to do anything that somebody wanted to do,” Adele said.
On that Saturday, the Jolly Trolley was filled with smiles and laughter as it made its way along Coastal Highway toward Rehoboth. As the family enjoyed their ice cream just a few feet from the crashing waves, Doug was remembered fondly with warmth and love. “Even growing up – we were far away, but it was such a highlight to see him,” said Grace Santamaria, his granddaughter. “We were always welcomed with open arms. He was warm. We just knew he loved us.”
