Family Says ‘Do It for Doug’

WILDWOOD CREST — Douglas Raucci lived his entire life on Forget-Me Not Road. For the thousands of people whose lives he touched, the memory of him is as fresh as the day they met him.
The 20-year-old local passed away in 2006 after a long battle with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension. Doug Raucci was also born with Down syndrome.
“He was unbelievable,” said his mother, Joann Raucci. “He loved anything and everything to do with people.”
“He was the happiest kid,” said Dave Raucci, his father. “He’d say, ‘I love my life!’”
As a student at Cape May County Special Services School District, Doug Raucci was well known and well loved.
“They just loved him over there,” said Dave Raucci. “They wouldn’t walk him down the hallway because the teachers would come out to see him.”
“He made everyone feel like they were the only person in the world, even though there was a room full of people,” said Joann Raucci. “Personality plus. That was his strong point.”
According to his parents, their son was very high functioning, in spite of his disabilities. “His language was perfect,” said his mother.
The third youngest in a family of four, Doug Raucci was a huge New York Yankees fan. “He knew all their names and numbers,” said Joann Raucci. Unable to attend a game because of his need for oxygen, he spent hours sitting on the sofa next to his dad taking in televised games.
After Doug Raucci passed away, his family organized the Douglas Raucci Forget-Me Not Foundation to keep his memory alive.
“We do this to honor him. In his name we started this,” said Joanne Raucci.
The 5th annual “Do It for Doug” Buddy Walk will be held Sat., March 31 at the borough’s Fitness Park.
“We walk up Forget-Me Not to the beach, walk to Cardinal Avenue, we walk around the Little League field because that was one of his favorite places to be because Kyle (Doug’s younger brother) would play baseball there,” said his mother. All told, the walk is less than a mile.
“That’s the funny part,” said Joann Raucci. “A Buddy Walk for Doug and Doug wouldn’t walk. Doug was always where the crowd was; he always had people around him. Old and new friends.”
In addition to the walk, the best part of the event for the Raucci family is the gathering held after the event.
“We love it when the people come and tell us stories,” said Joann. “We go to the firehouse and sit around and tell Doug stories.”
Throughout the years, proceeds raised from the walk have been used for various donations to the National Down Syndrome Society, Cape May County Special Services School District, the local Little League and to fund scholarships at Wildwood High School and Wildwood Catholic High School in Doug Raucci’s memory. The foundation has also donated to Crest Memorial Elementary School’s computer lab.
The foundation is manned entirely by volunteers, with the bulk of the work being done by Doug’s two older sisters, Melissa and Amanda.
A $20 participant fee includes a T-shirt and admission to the after-walk party.
“I’m still amazed at how many people show up,” said Dave Raucci. “He had more friends than we even knew about.”
Information about the walk can be found online at itsallaboutdoug.org or by calling 609-522-7406.