Douglas Edgar Caldwell

Douglas Edgar (Doug) Caldwell, 78 years old, passed away on May 23, 2026 at St Paul's Hospital Palliative Care Unit in Saskatoon, SK.
Doug was born in Highland Park Michigan April 30, 1948 to Edgar and Mildred (Maul) Caldwell. He fell in love with microbiology in high school and went on to study microbiology at Michigan State University earning a B.S. and PhD degree. He completed a post doctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin before taking a position in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico as a microbial ecologist studying lakes and hot springs discovering a new bacterium, Thermothrix thiopara. He moved to the University of Saskatchewan to the Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science in 1982 and studied biofilms developing new methods to study them and using electron microscopy and confocal laser microscopy to view them. He lectured around the world, taught for NASA, was a member of the GIYA Society, and was recognized for his contributions to microbiology becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

Doug loved nature (especially the fungi and mushrooms and trimming trees). He played the clarinet, went scuba diving, enjoyed photography, woodworking and stained glass. He loved his children and grandchildren and Disney World. Doug is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Sarah (Chapman) Caldwell of Saskatoon, SK; his children, Anna (James) Meikle and Christopher Caldwell; his sister Elaine (Larry) Lokai; and his grandchildren, Morgan, Gavin, and Liam Meikle. He is preceded in death by his father and mother.

The family is grateful to the staff at St.Paul's Hospital Palliative Care Unit who with loving care saw to it that Doug was able to die pain free and with dignity. In appreciation for their wonderful care, we ask that any memorial donations be made to the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation Palliative Care Unit. https://sphfsk.ca/donate/

The family will hold a private memorial service.