Douglas W. MacRae, M.D.

Douglas W. MacRae, age 86, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026.

Doug grew up in Bay City, Michigan with his parents Leonard and Edna MacRae. He was an excellent student (high school valedictorian) and interested in medicine from an early age, influenced by his father who was a general practitioner. Doug accompanied his father on house calls and in the medical office on the lower level of their home. He attended what was then known as City College in Bay City for one year, then did a summer of research at Johns Hopkins University. He was accepted into their prestigious combined program where he did one year at Michigan State University and five years at Johns Hopkins, graduating with his BS in 1961 and MD degree in 1964. There he met his first wife, Jean Ann Wright, who was in the nursing school.

Douglas then did his Ophthalmology residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. Following his training, he enrolled in the US Army as a Captain and served for two years in the Panama Canal zone with his new bride. They were very adventurous and enjoyed traveling, including driving from Panama back to Connecticut where their first child, Julie, was born in 1968. (He loved to tell stories of driving the Pan-American highway, where at one point on a narrow, foggy mountain road, Jean had to hang out the window and tell him how far away from the edge of the precipice the car was!). Catherine (Katy) soon followed in 1971, and the family got the best Christmas present ever in 1983 with the addition of Emilie MacRae.

Douglas was affiliated with CHCP and the Yale Health Plan as a general ophthalmologist and surgeon, and he trained Ophthalmology residents as Chief of the Ocular Pathology Lab at Yale. He was a faithful long-time member of the Orange Congregational Church and had served as a Deacon.

Doug enjoyed being a member of the New Haven Gaelic Pipe Band (at some points, with his daughter Katy piping alongside him!). He was an avid tennis player, and also loved playing contract bridge and socializing with his church and gourmet club friends.

After Jean’s passing in 2005, Douglas was lucky to find love again in Helen Redmond MacRae, and they were married in 2008. They spent many happy years together (along with their cherished canine sidekick Barney) as their extended family grew with beloved grandchildren.

Douglas is survived by his wife, Helen Redmond MacRae. He is also survived by his daughters, Julia, Katy, and Emilie MacRae, stepdaughters, Donna Wirkus and Nancy Balsys, as well as his grandchildren, Samuel and Nathan Wiesler and Paul and Malcolm MacRae, step-grandchildren, Shawna Pellicia, David Wirkus, James and Anthony Balsys, and step-great-granddaughter, Claire Pellicia.

According to Doug’s wishes, the internment will be private. Arrangements are in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. For more information or to share online condolences, please see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.