Douglas Ahlstedt

He was 78, born in Jamestown, NY in March 1945 to Carl and Pearl Ahlstedt.

He earned a degree in music education at SUNY Fredonia. In 1968 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Okinawa for two years. Doug and Linda Foxx were married on February 1, 1969 and served together as choir director and organist for the Anglican Church of Okinawa.

Doug received a master’s degree in vocal performance from The Eastman School of Music and upon graduation debuted with the San Francisco Opera in 1972.

In 1973 he won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and began a three year contract at the Met singing over 60 different roles. In 1976 the Ahlstedts moved to Dussseldorf, Germany where he was engaged as a resident artist at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. In 1984 Doug returned to the Metropolitan Opera where he sang over 200 performances. He has sung with major opera houses all over the world during his 35 year operatic career. He continued to sing with symphony orchestras as he transitioned into academia as a full professor of voice at Carnegie Mellon University in 1998 until his retirement in 2020. While at CMU, Doug created the Steelers Opera Chorus to cheer on the Black and Gold to 2006 and 2009 Super Bowl wins.

Doug spoke fluent German, French and Italian, which came in handy with travels all over the globe. Of all the many trips Doug and Linda took, the highlight was always the annual family ski trip.

Doug loved his family and his Lord dearly. Every song he sang was to the glory of God. His children and grandchildren were the light of his life. He touched the lives of so many students of all ages, many of whom sing professionally today. He will always be remembered for his sweet, loving and gentle spirit.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda; his children: Charlotte Siska, Kirsten Berger and Bjorn Ahlstedt; his grandchildren: Henrik Siska, Astrid Siska, Rush Douglas Berger, Arvid Ahlstedt and Elsi Ahlstedt; his brother Steven Ahlstedt and his sister Tina Michalski.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church on his birthday, March 16, 2024 at 11:00