Peterborough, NH – Douglas Copley, 88, died on June 30th, 2026, in RiverMead’s Health Center from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Doug’s family expresses warm thanks to the exceptionally compassionate skilled care provided to Doug by RiverMead’s Memory Support Director, Nurses, Aides and overall staff, along with the team from Hospice Home Healthcare based in Keene.
On April 28th , 1938, Doug was born to Annie and Ralph Copley in Bradford, England, with his extended family living nearby. Even after decades of living elsewhere in the UK and in the US, Doug still considered himself a loyal Yorkshireman.
Moving to the Manchester (UK) area when he was twelve, Doug attended Altrincham Grammar [secondary] school. Doug later studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Manchester (UK), becoming the first in his family to be granted a college degree. After earning his teaching credentials, Doug taught Physics at Manchester area high schools and at Derbyshire’s Glossopdale Community College where he was also an Administrative Head of Year.
Doug’s deep love of music led him to become a fine organist. Eventually he accepted the post of Organist and Choir Master at Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel, a long-standing position that gave great pleasure to Doug and the church’s congregation.
Along with music and his devotion to his family, Doug’s other love was hiking. He walked all over the hills and dales of the UK’s Lake and Peak Districts, and the higher mountains of Wales and Scotland. With his son and two younger brothers, Doug also hiked the 431 km Pennine Way and the historic Pilgrim’s Way from Winchester to Canterbury. When he moved to the U.S, he was happy indeed to explore Mount Washington, Mount Monadnock, and dozens of other local trails, with his wife Sue not far behind.
Ever curious, Doug developed new interests in his later years. He became a skilled wood worker, bicyclist, cross-country skier, builder of sturdy fences, baker, and wielder of a chain saw to process wood for our fireplace. Using a high-powered lathe, he enjoyed making handsome wooden bowls with complicated designs. He loved winter hiking with micro spikes or snow shoes and in warmer weather he created a series of lovely gardens on our property and in public spaces near our Peterborough home.
In the community Doug served on the Board of the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, helping to host numerous folk concerts and where he was often seen painting rooms, fixing chairs, and even making mushroom-shaped wooden stands for an exhibit of historic hats. He was also President of the Unitarian-Universalist Church where he enjoyed teaching pre-Covid Sunday School classes.
Doug is survived by his devoted wife Susan Copley; his daughter Gaynor Quinn; his son Graham Copley (and his wife Astrid); his brother Derek Copley (and his wife Judith); Helen Copley (the widow of Doug’s brother David); Heather Kyemba (and her husband Henry), and grandchildren Florence, Aiden, Sophia and Torin.
Everyone is welcome to attend a Memorial Service for Douglas Copley at 2 pm, on Saturday, July 25th, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Peterborough, led by Rev. Shayna Appel with support from Director of Music Mary-beth Hallinan, and Organist Carol Hamilton. An informal reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Doug’s memory to the PUUC Organ Preservation Fund (please note that on the bottom line of checks) and sent to the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 25 Main St., Peterborough, NH 03458. A brass plaque will be installed on the organist’s bench with “In memory of Douglas Copley, 1938-2026, a lover of this historic Organ and its beautiful music.” Thank you so much.
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