1947 - 2015Douglas Winston Williams died at home in Manhattan of massive heart failure on Monday, March 16, 2015 at the age of 67. A lifelong Canadian citizen, Doug was born on April 22, 1947 to Earl K. and Helen M. (Salahor) Williams in Lethbridge, Alberta, the younger of two sons. His father was the Postmaster of Banff, Alberta. His mother was a homemaker. From an early age, he excelled in math. After graduating from St. Joseph's high school he earned a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Mathematics from the University of Alberta. He was admitted to the rigorous Biophysics program at the University of Chicago and earned his PhD there. While working on a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University he helped a fellow graduate student, Julie Brannan, with a research project and they fell in love. The couple subsequently moved to Manhattan, where they were married at All Souls Church on July 15, 1989.Julie was in the habit of falling asleep to music on a sleep timer but early in their marriage, Doug asked if they could turn off the music at bedtime. He found himself converting the notes to mathematical formulas in his head and he couldn't nod off until the music timed out. He parlayed his affinity for numbers and knack for problem solving into several prestigious academic jobs before switching over to the financial markets to earn more money for a growing family. He and Julie had three children, who were the most important part of his life. Other passions included the New York Yankees and film noir. An Anglican since birth, in New York City he was a member of the Church of the Heavenly Rest.Doug is survived by his wife, Julie Brannan, and daughters Elizabeth, Katherine, and Meredith Brannan-Williams, all of New York, New York; and his brother Earl Williams, Jr. of Calgary, Alberta. He was predeceased by both of his parents. In accordance with Doug's wishes, there will be no public memorial service. Instead, his ashes will be returned to his parents' gravesite in a private service in Canada later this year. Doug firmly believed that education provides the most reliable and principled way to thrive in life. In his memory the family will make a donation to AVI, a non-profit in Sikar, Rajasthan, India. AVI is building a boarding facility for girls who are now living in the slums in order to give them the preparatory education they need to be accepted into private schools. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations for this cause in Doug's memory at http://tiny.cc/w0drvx (or go to FundRazr.com and type Douglas Williams in the search box).