Barbarajean Douglas, South Huntington Lacrosse Coach And Teacher, Dies

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Barbarajean Douglas, a teacher and lacrosse coach in the South Huntington School District, 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.

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.

Visitation was scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Nolan Funeral Home, at 5 Laurel Ave., Northport. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Philp Neri Church, at 344 Main St., Northport. A cremation ceremony will be held privately.

Douglas grew up in Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington, according to the school district. She graduated Syracuse University in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health and exercise science. She played on the Syracuse women's club lacrosse team. In 1994, Douglas completed her District Administration degree from SUNY Stony Brook.

After graduating, she worked in New York City in corporate fitness as an exercise physiologist and personal trainer. She returned to school in 1997 to receive her master's in special education from Long Island University's C.W.Post. When completing her master's, she worked for a private school for children with autism as an adapted PE teacher.

She 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.