Douglass Minerals

DAVE

Dave was a professor of materials science and engineering at UCLA for 25 years, taking early retirement in 1992. He and his students did research on the high-temperature corrosion of metals and alloys, primarily oxidation and sulfidation studies. This work resulted in over 140 publications, two of which concerned minerals (The Light-Induced- Alteration of Realgar, Amer. Mineralogist, 77, 1266, (1992) and Cobaltoan Calcites and Dolomites from Katanga, Min. Record, 30, 269 (1999)). He also wrote a book, The Metallurgy of Zirconium. He is presently a research professor at the Univ. of Arizona where he is still editing (32 years) an international journal on high-temperature gas-solid reactions, Oxidation of Metals.

He started collecting in 1989 while on a trip to Brazil for collaborative research. He became a dealer in 1991 after having become a "mineral aficionado" while having discretionary income as a single person. He met Liz in 1992 and married in 1993, moving to Tucson in that year. He and Liz have been doing many shows each year, including Tucson (Convention Center), Denver (Merchandise Mart), Costa Mesa, Pomona (now Pasadena), Bisbee, Phoenix, and some small club shows.

His outside interests include Tournament Bridge, golf (talked into learning the game by his father-in-law), weight lifting, and master’s track and field. He won the national decathlon championship in 1987 in the 55-59 year group and two national indoor pentathlon championships. In a 28-year period he has won over 2000 medals in numerous events (pole vault, hurdles, long jump, high jump, 400 meters, hammer throw, discus, javelin, etc.). Major back surgery in 1995 has slowed him somewhat but not his passion.

Dave has four adult children, Lisa, Karen, Todd and Olivia, of whom he is very proud.

LIZ

Liz has a BA in music from Carlow College in Pittsburgh, and an M.Ed in counseling from University of Pittsburgh. She began her career as a music teacher, and then moved into various educational counseling positions including high school and the University of Maryland. She worked for Westinghouse Corporation for 10 years, as a management development specialist and a Human Resources Manager for KFWB radio in Los Angeles. Following 4 years of management at both St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank and UCLA Medical Center, she decided to pursue a 30 year dream. After 7 years of hard work and study, she accomplished her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. As a licensed clinical psychologist, she now maintains a private practice in Tucson, specializing in grief work, addictions, women’s issues, and trauma resolution. She is also on staff at Sierra Tucson Psychiatric Hospital in Tucson.

Liz has traveled to many parts of the world, including a 3-week trek through the Himalayas in 1984. She ran and completed the LA Marathon, and has recently published an article based on her dissertation: When her mother dies: An adult daughter’s depth perspective. When she has time in her busy schedule, she does enjoy playing golf with Dave. On a good day, she can even out drive him!

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