David M. Duncan Sr.

September 13, 1944- September 13, 2024 

David Michael Duncan Sr, age 80, of Hollis New Hampshire, passed away suddenly on September 13, 2024, on a beautiful sunny day while hiking, surrounded by friends celebrating his birthday. 

David was born on September 13, 1944, in Malden Massachusetts; he was the son of Ordway Duncan and Buema Swim Duncan. He was one of seven children. His father was a Mechanical Engineer on fishing vessels out of Boston. Extended family was from Nova Scotia. David was raised and educated in Medford Massachusetts and a 1964 graduate of Medford High School. In July of 1965 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Turkey for eleven months. 

He furthered his education by attending night school at Northeastern University in September 1969 toward a degree in Electrical Design Engineering. 

On June 1, 1969, he married the love of his life Nancy, a love that lasted 55 wonderful years. During that time, they settled in the town of Hollis, New Hampshire where he built a house by hand, with the help of family and friends. In that home together they raised three children which David was so proud of, David Jr, Kelly, and Michael. Along with many pets, dogs and cats, most currently is Alex, and some friends along the way, who shared their loving home. 

David was a people person, a storyteller, a respected Electrical Design Engineer, with a large loving family, many friends and associates. He was a true family man. He loved his siblings, extended family and mostly his cherished wife Nancy and their life as Grandparents. 

His happy place was growing up and spending every summer at the family cottage/s in Annisquam Massachusetts at Diamond Cove. In the early 1980’s he and family renovated an old 1890’s home to make it the Duncan Thompson family cottage for many years to come. 

He did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity building houses. He was a volunteer Hollis Firefighter for 28 years, a lifelong blood donor, and always willing to lend a helping hand. 

David had a long professional work history as an Electrical Design Engineer. He worked many years at MACOM, started up his own company, Sage Active Microwave, with friends in his own home; worked as a consultant, and finally retired in 2015. He was well respected in his field. 

David and Nancy loved traveling. Many places they enjoyed were local in New England, Nova Scotia, Canada, Alaska, Europe, majority of the Carribean Islands, the Bahamas, across the United States and even completed a family cross country camping trip when the kids were younger. He drove with his cousin Ron and also son Mike cross country several times. David was always up for an adventure. 

Besides traveling, David loved home projects, aways keeping busy, had a drive to do it himself, educated and self-taught, a jack of all trades, built his own home while going to school and raising a family. If someone needed help, he would grab his tools and start working on that as well. He never stopped helping others when in need. He also loved to teach others those skills as well, passing them down to his children and grandchildren. 

David loved anything nautical, and he loved the ocean. Summers were special. He loved sailing, swimming, diving, fishing, snorkeling, if it was a good day, he would be on Rocky Beach or out on the water enjoying it with Nancy, family and friends or out on family sailing trips. His boat home port was Diamond Cove in Annisquam / Gloucester MA where he sailed many miles under his keel. David was involved in the Diamond Cove Association for most of his adult life and assumed many roles within that organization and was considered a leader in the community. 

David also loved skiing, and every winter looked forward to snow on the slopes and some good runs. He loved gardening, landscaping, hiking, his hiking group, nature, walks and just being outdoors. He loved to talk, to tell his stories, football games on Sundays, and cooking on the grill, and of course a good game of Cribbage. 

David will forever be loved by his loving family, extended family, friends and community, and missed by all who knew and loved him. 

David was the beloved husband to his surviving wife Nancy, devoted father to David Duncan Jr and wife Elizabeth, Kelly Norris and husband Curt, and Michael Duncan. Loving grandfather to Simon Norris, Anna Norris, Abby Norris, Miles Duncan and step grandfather to Vera Doyon. Cherished son of the late Ordway and Buema ( Swim) Duncan, Son in law to the late William and Marjorie Rideout . Predeceased by dear siblings, late Clarke Duncan, late Garvin Duncan and late wife Joan, late Carol Duncan, and late Kevin Duncan, late cousin in law Ron Brett, and late brother-in-law Bob Thompson and late wife Susan. 

David is survived by his dear brother Robert Duncan and wife Bonnie, dear sister Romayne Swim, dear brother Bruce Duncan, and dear cousin Marge Brett, dear sister-in-law Ruby Duncan. 

Special Uncle to many nieces and nephews. He will be missed. 

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday September 27th at 2:00 pm at Annisquam Village Church, 820 Washington Street, Gloucester MA. A private burial will be held at a future date. 

In lieu of flowers you may choose to send a donation to Courageous sailing, a charity that exists to transform lives through sailing programs that inspire learning, personal growth, and leadership. https://courageoussailing.org/