DOUGLAS (DOUG) HERMANCE
08/05/1957 - 06/13/2023
Douglas Mark Hermance, his ready laughter, irrepressible sense of humor, and unconditional love left us on June 13, 2023. He died peacefully at home. His life was cut all too short by glioblastoma brain tumors.
Douglas was born on August 5, 1957, in Houston, Texas, to his proud parents, Marilyn and Robert Hermance. He grew up in Sharpstown, attended Memorial HS, and graduated from Orange HS in Cleveland, Ohio. He then graduated with a B.S. in Business from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. At Babson, he met his college roommate, Theta Chi fraternity brother, roommate, and lifelong friend, Greg Spier.
Throughout his life, Douglas was quick with a laugh and a smile and was eager to wade into a political discussion. He was kind and cheerful and had a wily sense of humor. Douglas had an uncanny ability to stay calm during chaos. When others would stress, he would quietly reassure everyone that everything would be fine. He always operated from a “glass more than half-full” perspective.
He had a remarkable ability to connect with people and make them feel comfortable and welcome, which was a great asset in his role as salesman and President of Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware. Douglas was an avid reader and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge about American history. He also enjoyed acting as well as watching and learning about classic films.
For most of his career, Doug utilized his entrepreneurial acumen to work with his parents to grow Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware into a large and successful company operating one of the largest design showrooms in the southwest. He and his mother Marilyn were “fixtures” in the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association (DPHA) for over 40 years. He recently was awarded the DPHA CoF award which will be presented post-humously in October. Doug was one of the founding members in 2002 of Forte, a plumbing/hardware industry buying group, and served on the board 2007-2015 including 2 years as President. In that position, Doug traveled internationally and negotiated contracts between European and Asian suppliers and the buying group, managing to start a new plumbing fixture company through Forte which has now been incorporated into Crosswater USA. Douglas retired in 2022 at age 64 as President of Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware Company after successfully negotiating the sale of the company.
Beyond his professional achievements, Douglas was a devoted family man. He found great joy in the love and companionship of his beloved wife of 24 years, Janet Pinner. Together, they built a life filled with friends, family, food, dancing, laughter, and unwavering support for one another. Douglas loved watching his children Ryan and Megan grow into adulthood. Doug was so happy and proud when Megan was accepted at Rice University and made Houston her home. He treasured walking Megan down the aisle and dancing with her to their special “rainbow song”. He took special joy watching his granddaughter Brooklyn Hermance grow into a talented, poised young lady. More recently, he delighted in the antics of his beloved grandson Finn Goldsberry and was pleased to meet the newest greatniece, Jenny Henry.
Douglas leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and humor. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Janet, his parents Marilyn and Bob, adoring daughter Megan Hermance Goldsberry (Chris), his grandchildren Brooklyn and Finn, Laila Khakeshani, his sister Leigh Hermance Henry (Peter), his nephews Weston, Kent (Taylor) and Severn (Perle) Henry, and a host of extended family members and dear friends, especially Greg and Kathy Spier, and Karl Johnson, who were so kind and generous during Doug’s last, difficult months.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Durkal at Texas Oncology and Dr. Arroe at M.D. Anderson for their kindness and compassion. They would also like to thank all the staff at The Buckingham Skilled Nursing who joyfully cared for Doug as his disease progressed: Bola R, Bola L, Eric, Brenda, Leona, Roxy, Yawande and more – you brought dignity and joy to Doug and his family in more ways that you know. And- Edwin, Joseph, Jackie, and Rid and Rick at Vantage hospice – you are the best.
Although our hearts ache with sorrow at his loss, we find solace in knowing that Doug’s spirit will live on in our memories forever. His legacy will serve as a reminder to embrace life, to love unconditionally, and to cherish every precious moment we have with our loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the DPHA Council of Fellows Scholarship fund, 7508 Wisconsin Ave, 4th Floor, Bethesda, MD, the Gilbert Hermance Scholarship at
Rice (https://riceconnect.rice.edu/donation/supportkinesiology ), or the charity of your choice.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at Unity Church in Houston, Texas, on July 27, 2023, at 1 PM. Please come with a joyful heart- We have a lot of life and laughter to celebrate.
Doug- We miss and love you – and look forward to laughing and dancing with you again in Heaven- we send blessings that “you feel good” now! (with shout out to Aretha!)