Vale adman John Doorley: “Full of enthusiasm and good humour, he never lost the adolescent attitude towards pushing the boundaries”
Many who worked in the Australian ad industry in the 80s and 90s will be saddened to hear of the passing of well-known, larger than life, creative director John Doorley ~ JD to everyone who knew him ~ who has died in Coffs Harbour.
Says freelance creative Bettina Clark, who worked for Doorley back in the 90s: “Yesterday the Australian advertising industry lost one of its finest. John Doorley passed away as a result of heart failure, which is tragic for a man that had one of the biggest hearts in the industry, He was larger than life, generous with his time and wisdom, and a true gentleman in this business. He worked hard to grow a proudly Australian agency, Doorley Abram Davis & Chapman, and did it built on positivity, honesty, respect and trust.
“Always full of enthusiasm and good humour, he never lost the adolescent attitude towards making all things new and pushing the boundaries where boundaries were not traditionally pushed. Kind, enormously funny and exceptionally talented and brave, he will be fondly remembered and missed by all who crossed his path. A service is yet to be announced, but we will keep you posted. For now rest in peace fine fellow, you touched so many lives, encouraged and championed so many creatives, we will always remember you. Travel safe.”
Creative Director Rodd Chant, who worked for Doorley in the 90s, said on Facebook he was always larger than life, always with a big smile: “JD was a character, a larrikin, and as we say in Australia ‘a good bloke’. He loved life, surfing, the ocean, advertising, and simply having fun. When I worked for him he showed a hell of a lot of character and real respect for his staff. I remember some great times at his beloved Whale Beach home, in a spot he renamed Dolphin Bay due to the regular dolphins that would play in the water in front of his house. He even had a dolphin tattoo on his arm in honour of them. JD was one of a kind. He made his mark and there will be an empty void on this planet now without his big grin and laugh. Wherever you are now JD I am sure you’re riding a wave, keep on riding, mate.”
Adds former Kark Marks managing partner Mark Thomas: “John was a true original – the Madman!… infectious and impressive… and never anything but real – always ready to lend a hand… I remember one day a few years back now when he was the hottest adman in Australia – JD was in my office kicking back having a beer as we’d just got a campaign approved that afternoon and he overheard a young team from a rival agency in the next suite struggling with a VO in an edit that didn’t work… JD excused himself and popped his head in the door, quietly introduced himself as ‘John’ and spent the next 45 minutes workshopping the VO and honing the spot for them… till it was right… just cos he loved it… respect always.”
Says Ömer R. Incekara, former General Manager of DAD&C: “Rest In Peace, John Doorley – we worked hard and played hard for nearly four decades and took no prisoners. You were one of a kind, a legend, a mentor, a brother, a teacher to so many young creatives, a man with a heart of gold. They say a reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in adapting the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. You pushed us, and you pushed yourself to be always better. You did it your way and took all of us on a magical journey full of fun memories. None of us will ever forget you. Enjoy the waves on the other side, big guy. You left a huge hole in this world.”
Doorley joined his father’s agency Doorley Buchanan as creative director in the early 80s, building it up to be one of the most successful independent agencies of the 80s. In the early 90s Doorley Buchanan merged with Davis & Chapman to form Doorley Abram Davis & Chapman. Major clients included NRMA, Air Force, Navy, OPSM, Sarah Lee, Speedo, AEC, Crown Corning, Konica, ASIC, VW, Freedom and Thai Airways. Doorley sold out of the agency at the end of the 90s, heading to a new life in the USA, where he spent many years.
Doorley (centre) and a few of the Doorley Buchanan gang in the late 80s
24 Comments
One of the most creative kind loving human beings you will ever meet I’ve never forgotten his kindness and he’sAbility to make people laugh his memories of Whale Beach and of dolphin bay they have remained with me to this day rest in peace JD you’re one of the good ones
By his family be at peace with his passing and have strength to handle the pain blessings to you all
Vale JD, thanks mate for the start you gave me in this crazy biz
PS that pic is of the original crew at Doorley Buchanan, from the left: the awesomely artistic Richard (it’s gotta be right) Denham, Yours Truly, the Big Fella, the magical writer Paul (PM) Mortimer aka The Company Spin Bowler, and Omer who said he walks backward on Anzac Day Incekara
What a cool dude .
RIP JD
Will be sadly missed. From a good mate outside advertising. More in the building department, after hearing the news I spent the day remembering fun times spent with him, I ran out of day, there were so many. Love you brother
It was always great to spend time with JD.
Ad man, surfer, namer of bays.
Part man, part teenager.
Long blonde locks, beaming smile.
Positive. Vulnerable. Loveable.
Everyman. One of a kind.
If only there was more like him.
RIP John. You will be missed.
Absolute respect – craft reigns eternal. Not to mention a great understanding of what this business truly means. RIP mate.
The original enthusiast. John introduced me to the excitement involved in producing clever advertising. When I knew John he loved my sister, Mars Bars, Coca Cola and Countdown. He gave Dolphin Bay its name and loved the ocean and all it had to offer. I haven’t seen John in many years but know if we’d met up he would have greeted me with an enthusiastic Kata! Rest peacefully John to the soundtrack of your fave record which just might be “Night Moves”.
Thank you for this beautiful post honoring my Dad. He was truly larger than life and went out the same way he moved through the world: with a bang. It’s so touching to know that he was so deeply admired and loved by those who worked alongside him while he did what he loved most (besides surfing). Sending love to everyone also suffering this devastating loss.
Ava x
Hi Ava. We only met once many years ago. I was at school with your father and have kept in touch over the years. He certainly was a wonderful person and one of a kind. I will miss our catch ups !
Love to you
Adrian
Dear Ava, so sad to hear of your Dad’s passing. We were closest of friends at school and after. We originally had plans to go into advertising together.
Our times together surfing, playing rugby and golf and other mischievous activities are memorable.
He spoke of you as one of his greatest achievements the last time we met at a reunion.
Definitely one of a kind.
I have a 1962 rugby team photo you may be interested in.
Best Wishes
Scott
Dear Ava,
My deepest sympathy of the passing of your Dad. I was three years behind him at school and remember him as a wonderful character with a terrific sense of humour. I met your grandfather Garth several times here in Munich back in 1985 when he was here for quite a few months. I can also recall when he spoke to our class at school in the early 70s.
Sincere condolences to you and your family.
My heart is heavy. Thank you. Thank you for hiring me, teaching me, and making me laugh through it all every day. Love you my friend. Beexxx
So devastated to learn of JD’s passing. Shocked in fact. A wonderful and talented man, always with a laugh and a joke.
JD my dear friend and sometimes work colleague. He was a true original, the ideas never stopped, they flowed, he would laugh hard, he was passionate as hell and inspired so many of us. He was truly that larger than life character, I mean seriously larger than life. He was the most caring, kind hearted, big hearted guy you could ever meet. JD thanks for being in my life. A legend.
Heartsore for you beautiful Ava, thinking of you and one day when the time is right let me tell you some beautiful stories about your dad. X
You’re gonna be missed old mate-The surfing was fun-The beers were cold-The jaw banging was inspiring. The Black dog is nowhere to be found.
Cheers Rob Mc
Fuck me.
That’s so sad to hear.
Loved working with you mate.
R.I.P John.
We will miss you Johnny .
Always there to have a chat and a laugh .
Tin ?
So sad. JD was a lovely, complex, intense, poetic, driven, dreamer.
I’ll miss him.
Dear Ava, I send my condolences on the death of your father John. I knew him at school fifty years and more ago, as a courageous player in our team sports, a tall and entertaining class-room presence, a joyful companion in the playground and at social events, a man like his Dad, always with a sense of fun and a strong streak of defiance in a good cause. He lives in my memories; we shall meet him in our dreams, where he shall never seem to age. Best wishes, Douglas Newton
John and I met at school, he at StAlousious and me at Cranbrook. We were both fast bowlers and both of our fathers owned advertising agencies, Fortune was mine. We both went to work in our respective agencies.
I haven’t seen him for many years, but I remember him fondly as a great bloke and a terrific sportsman. I’m so pleased he did so well professionally and personally and so sorry to hear he has left us way too early
My sincere condolences to his family and friends
JD gave me my first (paid) gig out of AWARD School! I remember he roped me into being an extra in a Speedo ad. He instructed me to do tai chi in the waves, me being an ABC (Australian Born Chinese). Embarrassingly, I had to go hit up my Shanghainese dad on how to do some basic moves, who embarrassingly had no idea how to do any himself. I got a blue, one-piece swimsuit for my somewhat convincing arm swooshing efforts. I remember the soundtrack was really great. He had a great ear. He also demonstrated the basics on how to learn to surf on the carpeted floor of his office: assume low cobra, jump to your feet, back to low cobra – 100 times a day. That’s how you learn how to surf!
Was also great to hang out with him here in NYC.
So great to see PA, Omer and others commemorating JD here too!
(Ava and Kate, feel free to hit me up for a beet latte whenever you’re in NYC. galfromdownunder at gmail) aka Lynette Chiang
Loved working with JD. …and the way he rocked and rolled around in his 90’s Range Rover in sky blue
Late to the game, but am so saddened to read this. Johnny, for me, was my inspiration to leave Australia (Blueys Beach) and tackle NYC. I just uncovered some letters of encouragement he wrote me, and I shall always be inspired by them. I shall value, forever, Johnny’s friendship, support, encouragement and hugs. My condolences Kate and Ava x
Very sad to learn of John’s passing. I was fortunate to collide with John when Marketing Dir at Speedo in the 90s and he sure made doing business fun. Recall him telling the tale of when he bumped into Kerry Packer down at Palmy one morning. JD to Kerry..” G’day Kerry. We’re all equal in our Speedos, eh mate”. BS no doubt but then again, maybe not. Only JD could pull that off.