On June 29, 2022, Douglas Taylor McKean, a devoted and loving husband, father, son and sibling; funny, irreverent, and loyal friend to many, died unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage.  He was 54.

Doug was born in Carmel, New York and grew up in Wilton, Connecticut where he met his future wife, Michele Rose McKean, in high school.  They attended the senior prom together in 1984 and were married in 1998.  Doug and Michele had twins, Gavin and Colette, in 2009.  Doug delighted in his children: building models and chaperoning at robotics competitions, enjoying massive tickling fests, and serving them up the best homemade Chicken Katsu with Bull-Dog sauce and Jacques Pepin style omelets.

Doug knew in high school that he wanted to be a sound engineer and was fortunate to connect with Reel Hits Recording, a local recording studio, for a summer job.  He valued a broad education and pursued a liberal arts degree to balance with his technical engineering skills.   He graduated from the Gallatin Division of New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991.  Doug continued to appreciate this balance as an adult and could be found leisure reading technical recording equipment manuals and listening to Absolutely Mental (Ricky Gervais and Sam Harris), Conan O’Brien and Lovett or Leave It podcasts.

Doug started his music career in New York City in 1990 working with Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz (Tom Tom Club) doing live shows for the “Escape from New York Tour” in 1990.  He moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to work with Producer, Rob Cavallo.  In 2004 and 2005, he received two Grammy Awards for his engineering on Green Day’s "American Idiot" album.  Doug also worked with My Chemical Romance, recording "Welcome to The Black Parade" and several independent projects with Gerard Way.  Rob and Doug worked with Dave Matthews on the album "Big Whisky & the GrooGrux King", a new direction for the Dave Matthews band and was nominated for Album of the Year in 2010.

Gerard and Doug collaborated on projects at their studio and Gerard encouraged Doug to produce and expand creatively.  Most recently, Doug produced “Foundations of Decay” for My Chemical Romance’s 2022 world tour.  He was respected for his technical abilities in getting great sounds, work ethic, and confident and relaxed studio presence.  He developed lifelong friendships with many producers, artists and recording studio staff.

Always curious and with a penetrating insight, Doug thoroughly enjoyed the creative aspects of his work and had a unique ability to make friends and colleagues laugh uncontrollably.  He enjoyed movies, watching comedy bits and relaxing at home with his family. In recent years he had taken up bread baking (he was very proud of his sourdough starter), building and riding his e-bike, and learning piping as a preliminary step to the bagpipes.

Doug is survived by his wife of 23 years, Michele Rose McKean, and children, Gavin Francis McKean and Colette Marie McKean, of Woodland Hills, California; parents, Tom and Kathy McKean of Palm Coast, Florida; sister, Pam Feroleto and her husband Charlie of Milford, Connecticut; twin brother, Greg McKean of Danbury, Connecticut; sister, Sue McKean of Jacksonville, Florida; mother-in-law, Marie Rose of Gloucester, Massachusetts; brother-in-law, Jim Rose and his wife Julie Rose of Salem, Massachusetts; brother-in-law, Tom Rose and his wife, Nancy Rose of Norfolk, Massachusetts; and ten nieces and nephews.  The Celebration of Life is scheduled for August 13th at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood and Doug will be interred in Gloucester, Massachusetts with his loving wife’s family.

Doug brought a sweet calmness combined with edgy humor into our lives and we miss him immensely.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the “Doug McKean Family's Support Fund” to provide for the children and cover household expenses.

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