Douglas Reye was born in Townsville, Queensland, in 1912. His father had migrated from Ottendorf, Germany in 1883. He was educated at the Townsville Grammar School and upon matriculation from that institution he entered St Paul's College, University of Sydney where he remained for the six years of his medical course. Less than one year after graduation he joined the staff of the pathology department, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (RAHC) where he remained for the whole of his active life. When the then director, Dr Tidswell, died in 1941, Douglas was appointed acting-director and subsequently in 1946 full-time director. For some years he was senior lecturer (part-time) in the department of pathology at the University of Sydney. It is sad that within forty eight hours of his retirement he met his untimely death.

His bibliography was not voluminous but all publications dealt with entities which had either never been described previously or concerning which little had been written. His MD thesis concerned histiocytic reticulosis (one of his pet aversions was the term histiocytosis-X). He was the first to describe the subdermal fibrous tumours of infancy often referred to as Reyeoma-1 and Reyeoma-2. His main claim to fame worldwide was his description in the Lancet in 1963 of `Encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of the viscera: a disease entity in childhood' which has ever since been recognised as the Reye Syndrome.

Under his directorship the Institute of Pathology, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children expanded to include establishments for microbiologist, biochemist and haematologist, fields which previously he had encompassed himself. Subsequently the Cytogenetics Laboratory was added.

Douglas was essentially a shy man and gave the impression of aloofness to those who did not know him well. Registrars and residents tended not to approach him but when forced to do so by those who knew him well found that he was only too keen to share his great knowledge and experience with them. However someone close to him had to break the ice! To his close friends he was a delightful companion. This was especially so in his own home discussing his widespread interests. Those who were fortunate enough to share his company were made completely at ease with no fuss or bother. He had a great interest in gardening, especially tropical trees and plants, an interest which stemmed from his father. He was an avid reader, had great interest in paintings and sketching, especially the work of Norman Lindsay, and was a motor car addict.

He enlisted in the army in 1940 but due to the shortage of pathologists his release was obtained by the hospital and he remained on the reserve for the duration of the war. Although he rarely mentioned it he secretly regretted his inability to serve. In 1942 he married Corrie Saunders whom he met when both were residents at RAHC. Subsequently Corrie developed a world-wide reputation for her expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy in childhood. As was once said they were a remarkable medical family. It could truly be said that they complemented one another. They had one daughter, Carol.