Douglas W. Bairstow

Douglas William Bairstow, 82, died Thursday, September 17, 2026 at his home in Lenox, MA.

Douglas was a native son of Dalton. His family, Harry and Phyliss Bairstow and brother, Bob, Bob’s wife, Dorothy, his nephews and nieces and sister, Janet lived on Carson Avenue for many years. He attended Craneville School and was a member of the class of 1961 at Dalton High. His childhood was spent enjoying the peaceful surroundings of a place called "Happy Acres ", just off Grange Hall Road. And zipping across Pontoosuc Lake with Janet in a small boat from the family cottage. Bob, older brother by 10 years, made sure he kept a close eye on the little guy who liked to "run away" to his grandmother's home across the street. Doug turned to him for advice all his life.

He began his career as a classical musician in Pittsfield at the School of Music. After a short time his teachers told him that they had nothing more to teach him and suggested that he go to Boston to continue his studies. His mother, a graduate of Eastman School of Music, drove him to Boston every Saturday until he was old enough to drive. As a teenager, he won many awards and competitions as his skills and craft expanded and perfected. After high school he was invited to attend the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, eventually completing his musical education in Boston. Summertime would find him at Tanglewood again studying with world-renowned composers, conductors and musicians.

His first job was with the Goldofsky Opera Company touring the US and Canada. While on tour, he happened to audition for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. He was hired, at age 21, as Principal Oboe. He remained in that chair for over 44 years.

He performed in many famous venues from Carnegie Hall to Paris to the home of the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. He was invited to play with the World Orchestra in Barre, Italy.

In addition to performing with the WSO, he played with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, CBC Radio Manitoba, The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Rainbow Stage and The Prairie Winds Quartet. He also taught at Brandon University and the University of Manitoba.

In the mid-sixties, he married Diane Leymann and had five children, two of whom were adopted. They lived in Winnipeg until they moved to a "Hobby Farm "about twenty miles outside of the city. He enjoyed fishing expeditions into the wilds of the Canadien wilderness where he was "Cook Extraordinaire". (What was that about a bear and a cabin door?), golf trips to PGA courses in the states and sailing on Lake Winnipeg.

In 2009, a teenage love rekindled and he married Ellen Chapin. They lived in Steinbach, Manitoba until they returned to the states in 2011 and eventually to their beloved Berkshires. They traveled extensively and truly enjoyed every adventure. Together they spent time golfing (so called), gardening and attending concerts at Tanglewood and around the globe. He gained a new family complete with a step-son and step-daughter and their spouses and grandkids and great-grand kids, several grand-dogs and cats. Jack, the Himalayan, joined the family in 2012. Doug rescued him from a laundromat and he has brought joy to them ever since.

He was also famous, at least among family and friends, for his flakey pie crust (he gave piecrust making lessons) and Eggs Benedict to die for. Christmas time meant cookies that arrived every year. Walnut Crescents were Emily's favorite and Jennifer always looked for the shortbread cookies in a package from Papa. Grandkids and great-grandkids looked forward to those Christmas cookie boxes.

Doug never met a stranger. He loved meeting people of all cultures and backgrounds and beliefs, he called all that he met, his friend. His kind and gentle heart and his child-like curiosity and sense of wonder were the qualities that endeared him to all who had the gift of knowing him.

SERVICE - A service celebrating the life of Douglas W. Bairstow will be held Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 1:30 pm at the First Congregational Church of Dalton, 514 Main Street, Dalton, MA.

Donations in memory Doug may be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to his family please go to https://www.finnertyandstevens.com/obituaries/douglas-bairstow Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra: https://give.wso.ca/for-doug