Douglas M. Pfeninger, 81, of Dartmouth, passed on November 6 at Brigham and Women's Hospital after a brief illness.

He was the husband of Alice M. Pfeninger. Born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late Charles and Violet (McGee) Pfeninger, he lived in Dartmouth most of his life.

Mr. Pfeninger was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church. He had a 40 year career at the Dartmouth school system starting out as a teacher and retiring as principal of Dartmouth Middle School. He also was a basketball coach at Dartmouth High School. He was awarded Principal of the Year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Pfeninger was an Eagle Scout and volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. He was a past president of the Board of Directors and a member of Child and Family Services, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and Massachusetts Mid Level School Administrators Association. He was a member of the Country Club of New Bedford and served as chairman and member of Dartmouth Recreation Commission for 58 years. He was the former camp director at Camp Nonquitt for many years.

Mr. Pfeninger was a graduate of New Bedford High School, class of 1953, University of Massachusetts, class of 1957 and later Bridgewater State College.

He enjoyed time spent traveling with his family. They spent every weekend skiing in Vermont and then later at Steamboat Springs, CO. He also traveled often with his family to St. John, Virgin Islands. Mr. Pfeninger enjoyed watching his grandson play hockey and lacrosse.

He was active in Dartmouth town politics.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Scott Pfeninger and his wife Allyson Read of Roswell, GA; a daughter, Ann Marie Pfeninger-Racine and her husband Marc Racine of Dartmouth; and a grandson, Lance Pfeninger-Racine.

His visiting hours will be held on November 10 from 3-8 p.m. in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. There will be no services held on Friday. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on November 12 at 10 a.m. in St. Julie Billiart Church.

The family has asked that everyone please meet directly at church on Saturday. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Douglas M. Pfeninger Scholarship Fund, 92 Gaffney Road, Dartmouth, MA 02748.