Hiking and camping were favorite activities
Published November 13, 2019
WAKEFIELD — On October 30, Scott Paul Doran, 57, of Wakefield, died suddenly and unexpectedly of natural causes after finishing an early morning swim in the MIT Alumni Pool and before walking over to the Cambridge Innovation Center to begin the third day of his new job with Myomo. Despite heroic efforts by those who were with him when he collapsed, the EMTs who quickly arrived, and the enormous emergency medical team at MGH, his heart never regained it’s normal rhythm.
Scott was born in Big Spring, Texas in August of 1962, but his stay in Texas was short. Born into a military family, they moved often in those early years, creating a strong bond between Scott and his two brothers. Scott’s memories of his younger years go back to when his family was stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. He fondly recalled the frequent snow storms resulting in immense snow banks in which the young brothers excitedly dug tunnels.
At 9 years old, Scott’s family moved to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Base in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Scott entered 4th Grade at Oak Street School and continued in the Plattsburgh public schools through his graduation from PHS in 1980. At age 10, Scott began swimming competitively with the Plattsburgh Piranhas (AAU) and later joined the PHS Swim Team. Scott was often a triple winner and set records that remained unbroken for many years.
Scott spoke of his many adventures while in the Boy Scouts. Hiking and camping were clear favorites and he continued to enjoy these activities throughout his life. At age 14, Scott achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and he enjoyed attending Jamborees. The most notable was in 1977 when he attended the National Scout Jamboree in Moraine State Park, Penn., later known as “More-Rain” State Park after four and a half inches of rain soaked the 28,000 encamped Scouts.
Scott studied Electrical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As a freshman, Scott joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and MIT swim team where he developed strong friendships which lasted through the years. Last spring, Scott attended the retirement banquet of his MIT swim coach, John Benedict, a man who had a lasting influence on Scott and countless others. This past summer Scott and the other 12 members of his Lambda Chi pledge class gathered in Kentucky where they spent a couple of unforgettable days together renewing and strengthening their bonds of friendship.
On January 6, 1984, Scott married his high school sweetheart, Vicky Miranda, in Plattsburgh, N.Y. They enjoyed 35 years of married life. Scott was a family man and spent much time with his wife and three children hiking and skiing, swimming in the ocean off Plum Island, playing board games, and in later years, heading out on weekend adventures with his wife. In Scott’s opinion, it wasn’t the activity that mattered, what mattered was spending time together with those he loved.
After graduating from MIT, Scott went to work at MIT Lincoln Lab. While working at Lincoln Lab, Scott earned a masters in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1997. Scott continued to work at Lincoln Lab while his children were young and his enthusiasm was contagious. His wife recalls walking in the door one evening to find her preschool age son racing around the coffee table shouting “Look Mommy, I’m a free electron!” as he tore off down the hallway. Scott shared his knowledge of science and technology throughout the many years of homeschooling his three children.
Eventually, Scott directed his affinity for numbers in a new direction. He returned to Northeastern, earning a masters in Accounting along with an MBA in 2004. Scott worked for PWC as an auditor from 2004 to 2011, moved to CFGI from 2011 to 2013, and then worked as SEC Manager at BIND Therapeutics from 2013 to 2015. Scott next took on the role of Controller first at NeuroMetrix from 2015 to 2019, and then at Myomo in 2019. Scott had an astute mind and loved the challenge and complexity of the Controller role in small companies.
Scott moved to Wakefield soon after graduating from MIT and participated in the community for over 30 years. When his children were young, Scott coached many seasons of soccer and softball for the town youth programs. A member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield since 1985, Scott taught many memorable religious education classes and later acted as a Trustee. Since 2010, Scott was an avid member of the Quannapowitt Yacht Club and acted as the QYC Treasurer for the past several years. He spent every available moment out on the lake sailing his Laser in high winds and low. Scott made many friends at QYC, greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow sailors and enthusiastically competed in the frequent races. In the autumn, as the air grew cold, and most sailors had stowed their gear for the season, Scott could still be spotted tooling around on Lake Quannapowitt eagerly seeking the squirrelly wind.
Scott is survived by his wife Victoria Miranda Doran, his daughter Katelyn Michelle Doran, his sons Andrew Scott Doran and Benjamin Alexander Doran, his mother Florence Louise Doran, his father Donald Arthur Doran, his brother Donald Arthur Doran, Jr. and his brother Douglas Wright Doran. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, in-laws, and extended family. He is predeceased by his daughter Jessica Lynn Doran.
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield on Saturday, November 16 at 10:30 a.m.
