Doug Watt 1914-2009

Renowned composer, lyricist, critic and columnist Douglas Watt of Southampton and New York City dies at 95
Oct 6, 09 7:25 PM


Renowned critic, columnist, composer and lyricist Douglas Watt, a summer Southampton resident, died of natural causes on September 29 at Southampton Hospital. He was 95.

Born January 20, 1914, he was the only son of Benjamin—a structural engineer—and Anne Watt.
Upon graduating from Cornell in 1934 at the age of 19, Mr. Watt became a copy boy with The Daily News in the drama department, where he was employed until 1993, working his way up. He had many assignments including chief drama critic, music critic and columnist. He wrote the column “Small World” from 1955 to 1970, and worked at two radio stations, WJZ and WEAF; he was on the job when Orson Welles’s “War of the Worlds” came on the air, sending everyone into a panic.

In 1945, Mr. Watt was hired by William Shawn at The New Yorker to write about the music scene. He was asked by his new employer to leave The Daily News to become chief music critic, but he did not want to give up writing theater reviews, which was a passion. And so he continued writing theater reviews for The Daily News while writing music profiles on opera, classical and popular music for The New Yorker. He also wrote the “Tables for Two” column from 1948 to 1957. His recognition of the importance of the musical “Porgy and Bess” helped the production to re-open on Broadway to unanimous acclaim.

Mr. Watt’s career as a critic spanned over a half a century, affording a unique insight. When he first reviewed the 1949 opening of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” he left the theater for the office and, after writing his review, would get it down to Linotype operators for the morning edition. Near the end of his career 50 years later, he simply wrote his review and clicked the send button on a computer at his home.

A member of ASCAP since the 1940s, Mr. Watt, an accomplished pianist, composer and lyricist, wrote “There’s Not a Moment to Spare” (1939), “After All these Years” (1940), “I’d Do it Again” (1941), “Man” (1945), and “Heaven Help Me.” His songs were performed by such artists as Doris Day. His love and knowledge of music was the foundation of many of his friendships with composers and lyricists of the day including Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Frank Loesser and Cy Coleman.

Mr. Watt and Duke Ellington collaborated on a musical version of George Bernard Shaw’s, “Caesar and Cleopatra,” but they ceased production when Mr. Watt was approved by the Shaw estate and Mr. Ellington wasn’t because of the color barrier of the day.

One of the founders of the Drama Desk Awards, he was also a member of the Drama Critics Circle, the nominating committees for the Theater World Awards and Tony Awards, the Pulitzer jury for drama, the Derwent Awards, the Callaway Awards and chairman of the nominating committee for the Astaire Awards since their inception in 1980. He was a critic on the first cable television show reviewing theater in the 1960s and 1970s. He covered the theater for WNBC News during the 1962-1963 newspaper strike and has been often quoted in anthologies on the theater.

Besides his love of the theater and music, Mr. Watt enjoyed time with his wife at their summer home in Southampton. Survivors recalled his daily walk for a swim in Peconic Bay and how he hummed a melody as he walked back to the cottage. But New York City was where his soul resided, survivors said. Once, while on a plane from Los Angeles to New York, he was seated next to a man who was boasting how he had been to every city in the world. Mr. Watt asked him if he had been to New York. When the man answered, “No,” Mr. Watt replied, “Well, you haven’t been anywhere.”

He is survived by his wife, Ethel Watt; two sons, Richard Watt and James Watt; two daughters, Patricia Watt and Katherine Rosenberg; and 8 grandchildren.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. A memorial service will be held in New York City at a later date.

Catharine Meyers~ 1910 -2009

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Catharine Meyers who passed away on Oct.5, 2009.

A long time resident of the Colony, those who knew her will never forget her.

She was Grandma Meyers to so many of us...

She is survived by her sons, John (Nancy),
Tony (Nannette)
Larry (Eileen) and
Vinny (Janice)
and many grandchildren and great grandchildren..

May she rest in peace..

Donations in Catharine's name may be made to Human Resources at Sacred Heart in Southampton.
Human Resources of the Hamptons
168 Hill St
Southampton, NY 11968

She will be missed...
This is the beautiful eulogy given by Jock (John aka the "Duke") ;) at Catharine's funeral. I wanted to share it with all who knew her..

Eulogy...


MY BROTHERS AND I WELCOME EVERY ONE TO THE BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRAL OF ST. AGNES. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF OUR DEAR MOTHER, CATHARINE MEYERS.

WE ARE HERE TO SAY GOODBYE TO A REMARKABLE WOMAN WHILE REJOICING IN THE LIFE SHE LED. EVEN THOUGH SHE IS GONE, DEATH DOES NOT REIGN FOR SHE LIVES ON IN HER FAMILY…OF FOUR SONS, THEIR WIVES, 18 GRANDCHILDREN AND 29 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

AFTER ALL, LIFE CONQUERS DEATH!

FOR A CENTURY, SHE LIVED A FULL LIFE. AT THE END, SHE HAD ONLY A FEW REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONTENT. FIRST WAS A WEEKLY VISIT TO HER HAIRDRESSER. SECOND WAS TO NEVER REVEAL HER AGE, WHICH SHE CONSIDERED A STATE SECRET. TO TELL IT WOULD BE TREASON. THIRD WAS AN EVENING SCOTCH WITH A FRIEND.

A REMARKABLE WOMAN AND WONDERFUL MOTHER, SHE TAUGHT BY WORD AND, BEST OF ALL, BY EXAMPLE, THE ONLY TRUE LEADERSHIP. AS SHE AGED, HER PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES SEEMED TO GROW. HER FINEST DAYS WERE HER LAST FEW YEARS. AS HER BODY FAILED, HER SPIRIT SOARED.

LEAVING HER AT THE END OF A VISIT, I WOULD HUG HER AND SHE WOULD ASK – “WHY AM I STILL HERE?” I ALWAYS PONDERED HER QUERY AND CAME TO KNOW THE ANSWER, WHICH I NEVER TOLD HER, UNTIL NOW. SHE WAS STILL HERE TO SHOW US, SONS AND WIVES FIRST, THEN ALL OTHERS HOW TO AGE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY, TO ACCEPT THE LOSSES OF AGING BY NOT COMPLAINING, TO GO ON WITH A SMILE FOR EVERY ONE – AND MAKE THE BEST OF THE GIFT OF A LONG LIFE AMID LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

SO WE CLOSE THIS LAST CHAPTER OF HER LIFE OVERWHELMED BY GRIEF BUT FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR HER LIFE AND LOVE.

SO LONG, MOM. GOD BLESS YOU! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AND THE LESSONS. REST IN PEACE!!