Douglas Walter Kammer ’67

Doug died Sept. 11, 2019, at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison due to a sudden illness. Born in Madison, Doug came to Princeton from Muncie, Ind., and was a graduate of Burris High School, where he was a star swim team member.

At Princeton Doug was an outstanding diver. He roomed sophomore year with Terry Tornek and Ken Logan but transferred at the end of spring semester to the University of Wisconsin, where he studied political science and math, graduating in 1967. He went to the University of Wisconsin Law School, earning a law degree in 1970. He also studied at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Doug began a solo practice in Portage, Wis., north of Madison on the banks of the Wisconsin River. He practiced real estate, business, estate and probate, bankruptcy, and family law for 47 years. He ended as managing partner of a three-person firm, and was president of the Wisconsin State Bar Association from 2009 to 2010. He notably was instrumental in creating a new Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Chapter that regulated the unauthorized practice of law, and shook up the long established profession’s mandatory requirement that all attorneys belong to the bar association.

Doug was married to Gisela Kammer, with whom he had three sons — Alex, Andy, and Aaron — and three grandchildren. They were divorced prior to his death. Early in his career he bought a farm of 12 acres in nearby Montello, Wis., and raised some cattle and relaxed maintaining the land. Tributes from colleagues across the state noted his profound ethical standards, strength of character, pro bono work, and deep commitment to the law and justice. The state of Wisconsin, and the Class of ’67 at Princeton and University of Wisconsin, lost a thoughtful, caring, and honorable citizen at his death.