BELFAST — D. Douglas Hufnagel dies in Belfast on April 2, 2024 at the age of 78.

Doug, fondly known as, “Coffeeman”, renowned for his secret blend of coffee sold from his mobile coffee stand. Long food carts were a thing, Doug made the mobile coffee stand cool; he was ahead of his time, smart and creative.  

Coffeeman traveled many miles to concerts and fairs throughout Maine, New England and all the way out to the southwest on occasion. For many years, Doug was the renegade coffee vendor at the Common Ground Fair, pleasing many coffee lovers who could not find a cup within the Fair grounds. For the last several years, Coffeeman has spent spring, summer and fall parked in Belfast down by the harbor attracting regular customers as well as many out of state fans. His European Lifestyle Café hosted many conversations over a great cup of coffee. 

Doug was born in New York City in 1945 and his parents brought him to Maine in 1946, starting a lifelong connection and eventual devotion to the state. In 1949, his parents welcomed another child, Janet, and then moved the whole family to Connecticut – first to Fairfield, then West Hartford and eventually to Stamford. Two more sons were added to the family: Leigh and Craig.

Doug graduated from Stamford Catholic High School in 1964 with his yearbook declaring him….” cool, calm and collected .. and independent”! Following high school, Doug spent a year and a half at UM Orono before leaving and finishing his BA degree at UConn in Storrs.  

Storrs was a critical time in Doug’s life; he made treasured friends and started on a lifelong path as a radical and social justice advocate with his involvement with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and anti-war protests throughout the country.  

Doug loved to travel and explore different cultures. From 1968-72, his parent’s home in Brussels, Belgium proved to be a great launching pad for trips throughout Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. Travels on his motorcycle brought him to all parts of the US especially west and southwest where he’d connect with old friends and make new ones.

In 1978, Doug moved his family from Connecticut, relocating to Midcoast Maine. Many close friends followed. Maine became home for the rest of his life.  

Doug was a reporter for the Camden Herald for a number years, eventually writing a bi-weekly column “Route 52”.  He used his column to comment on mid-coast politics and general happenings in the area, often to the dismay of the many local leaders and especially MBNA executives. An attempt to cancel his 10 year-old column was met with such fan pushback, that the publisher of the paper agreed to reinstate his column admitting: “In the final analysis, I was touched by how many people seem to care about their local paper. In an age of increasingly apathetic readership, it’s great to be able to provide a voice-as infuriating as it can be- that people seem sincerely concerned about preserving. Your hero is back in the saddle.” (Bill Patten, Publisher Camden Herald.) 

Doug was a contributing writer on the 1991 documentary Making Sense of the Sixties from which came his 1954-74 timeline showing each year of the twenty-one years with highlighted events in six categories: Politics, Civil Rights, Student Movement, Vietnam War, Society, and Counter Culture. He researched and created his timeline during his decades long winter sojourn to the southwest, especially Tucson. The timeline engaged Coffeeman customers over many years, launching robust conversations still relevant today.

Motorcycles and yard sales were particular passions of Doug’s. He often combined the two and displayed many finds in his wardrobe and lawn ornaments.

An avid reader and movie fan, Doug frequently sent “must read” NY Times articles and movie suggestions to family and friends. He was an entrepreneur and skilled gardener, cultivating a specialty crop loved by many. A true Dead Head, Doug attended countless Grateful Dead Concerts.

Doug is predeceased by his parents; youngest brother, Craig (2003); and stepson Danny Seefahrt (1997).

He is survived by his daughter, Erin Hufnagel of Camden; grandson Beau Douglas Stay; son Josh Hufnagel of Manchester, New Hampshire; and stepdaughter Nicole Crockett of Camden.

He is also survived by his sister, Janet Muri, her husband Tony; brother Leigh and wife Nancy, and many nieces and nephews. 

The family wishes to thank all Doug’s friends and acquaintances who have been such a large presence in his life all these years. Many were especially generous over the last six months. 

A special celebration of his life will be announced during the summer. 

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.