BRUNSWICK – Richard “Dick” Duncan, 93, of Brunswick, Maine, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2026.

Born Nov. 19, 1932, in Muskegon, Mich., he was the tenth child of Florence and William Jepsen. Following his mother’s death shortly after his birth, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Anna and Charles Duncan, becoming their only child. He remained close to his Jepsen siblings throughout his life.

A 1951 graduate of Muskegon High School, Dick worked for the Muskegon Chronicle before serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve and on active duty during the Korean War. He married his beloved wife, Marlene (Hanson) Duncan, in 1955; she predeceased him in 2008.

He earned degrees in Speech Pathology from Western Michigan University and Michigan State University and devoted his career to supporting children and families. After working in Michigan schools and at Northern Michigan University, he moved to Maine in 1969 to join the Maine Department of Education. There, he served as a Consultant in Speech and Hearing and later as Coordinator of Monitoring and Assistance until his retirement in 1996. He was widely respected as a leader, mentor, and advocate in special education.

Dick received the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Outstanding Clinical Achievement Award and the Maine Speech-Language-Hearing Association Honors of the Association Award.

An avid fisherman, he shared his love of fishing with his grandsons and was a dedicated beekeeper for more than 30 years.

He is survived by his children, Barbara Gunn of Brunswick, Karen Duncan of Orrington,, and Charle Duncan of Bangor; his grandchildren, Cameron and Duncan; and his wife, Patrice, along with her sons, Omarian and Cory.

He will be remembered for his kindness, integrity, and lasting impact on the field of special education in Maine.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to:

the Stuttering Foundation

of America or to:

the Washington National Cathedral

in Washington, D.C.