Death Of South Huntington Teacher A 'Tremendous Loss': Superintendent

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — The South Huntington School District is mourning Barbarajean Douglas, a teacher and lacrosse coach, who died on Dec. 27.

Douglas was a physical education teacher at Stimson Middle School. She coached lacrosse at the middle school and Walt Whitman High School at different times in her career.

"Mrs. Douglas’ passing is a tremendous loss to the South Huntington community," Dr. Vito D'Elia, superintendent of the school district, told Patch. "To lose such an energetic and dynamic educator, who our students have come to know and love, is a tragedy to say the least. Barbarajean Douglas has been a prominent member of the Stimson Middle School Community for over 20 years as a physical education teacher, lacrosse coach and educational leader. Our continued thoughts and prayers go out to her family, as well as her students, as they struggle with the loss of such an amazing individual."

She is survived by her husband, James, and her two sons, Padruig Jamison Douglas and Broden Alistair Douglas. She was born in 1972 to Edward and Karen Cappabianca. She was the dear sister of Corrine (Sean) McLaughlin. She was the devoted aunt of Caedon, Declan and Shaelyn.

A cause of death was not listed in the obituary.

Her funeral mass was held Wednesday at St. Philp Neri Church in Northport.

Douglas began her career in the South Huntington School District in September 2000 as a PE teacher at Silas Wood 6th grade Center. In 2014, she was named Suffolk Zone Adapted PE teacher of the year.

Douglas coached girls lacrosse for 17 years. She started coaching in 1997 at Cold Spring Harbor High School as the junior varsity head coach. In 2001, she became the Walt Whitman junior varsity coach. She was the Whitman varsity coach during 2002-2004 and 2009-2012 seasons. She coached the Stimson Middle School girls lacrosse team during seasons 2007-08. During the 2001-2003 seasons, she was a New York state School Girls National team coach.

In 2002-2003 she was also the U-13 and U-15 Long Island All Star Youth National team coach. In 2011, she was a Long Island School Girls National team coach. She was actively involved in the Suffolk County Girls Lacrosse Coaches Association, where she was vice president from 2010 to 2012.

Douglas enjoyed her free time watching her teenage sons play competitive golf, according to the school district. She also watched golf, football, basketball, lacrosse, and baseball games with her husband and sons.