By:Karenlyn Barone
Duncan was a giver in the truest sense of the word, and he lived his life selflessly for his family and his community, his loved ones say. "His goal in life was to serve people and do good," said his wife of 40 years, Vicki. "He spent his life helping people."
Born on his mother's kitchen table in Rosedale, Queens, on July 15, 1941, Duncan moved to East Rockaway in 1950 with his parents and younger brother, Edward.
As a boy, Duncan took a job delivering newspapers on his bicycle, which foreshadowed his 38-year career with the U.S. Postal Service in East Rockaway.
After Duncan married his high school sweetheart, the former Vicki Hicks, they took off on a cross-country honeymoon in his red-and-white Corvette. The young couple then rented an apartment in East Rockaway, and before they even had time to settle in, Duncan was drafted into the Army -- an unexpected interruption to both his marriage and his postal career. He served two years in the military, and was stationed in Vietnam for 18 months. Upon his discharge, he left the service with several commendations.
In 1961, Duncan discovered another way to serve people, joining the East Rockaway Fire Department. His affiliation with Engine Company Hose No. 1 spanned more than 42 years, during which he responded to more than 10,000 rescue calls, answered countless fire calls, was an advisor to the Junior Firefighters and assisted in the birth of seven babies. He served as the East Rockaway Fire Department's deputy chief from 1983 to 1985 and as its chief from 1986 to 1987.
"He was extremely special, in that he never thought of himself," said Vicki. "He lived his life helping others. Even when he was at home, sick with pneumonia, he wanted to answer the rescue calls."
Duncan was a familiar face in East Rockaway. He was often seen shoveling a neighbor's sidewalk or delivering stamps to an elderly resident, and he was the first to lend a helping hand when it was needed.
"He was always willing to help someone," said fellow postal worker Larry Mangiaracina, who worked with Duncan for more than 20 years. "If he could help you, he would. He was a true sweetheart."
Named the Kiwanis Person of the Year in 1990, Duncan experienced major medical setbacks after a near-fatal car accident in 1995, including colitis problems that resulted in the removal of his large intestine in 1999, microscopic cancer and diabetes. According to Vicki, medical experts directly related Duncan's form of diabetes to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The most serious of his medical conditions was sclerosing colongitis, a rare liver disease. In 2002, Duncan's liver deteriorated to the point where a transplant was necessary.
"The doctors told us that if no liver was found, my dad wouldn't make it," said Duncan's daughter Kelly, 35.
Duncan received a donor liver on March 20, 2003, and made dramatic progress after the transplant.
"He was able to dance with me and my daughter at our son, James Jr.'s, wedding this past August," said Vicki. "He was just amazing. Through everything, Jim had the heart of a lion."
Duncan's generous heart eventually began to fail, however, and he was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 21. On Feb. 2 he succumbed to respiratory failure, dying quietly in his wife's arms.
"He was truly amazing," said Vicki. "He was never sad and he never complained."
Kelly has always referred to her father as her hero, and is proud that he touched so many people's lives. Even in death, Duncan has found a way to give, through the donation of his corneas.
"We are firmly behind organ donations," said Vicki. "Without Jim's transplant, he would have died last March. We had him with us these last few months because of the organ donor."
In those last months Duncan was recognized by the Town of Hempstead, for his years with the East Rockaway Fire Department, and by the Joseph R. Pagliaro Memorial Charity, People Helping People, for his commitment to helping others.
In addition to his wife and children, Duncan is survived by a brother, Edward, his mother-in-law, Ellen Gunther, and a daughter-in-law, Tina.
Family and friends gathered at St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church in East Rockaway for a funeral Mass on Feb. 7, where they were able to forget the freezing weather outside and remember a man with the warmest of hearts. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery.
The family is accepting donations to the Jim Duncan Medical Fund, which was established last year in order to help with the exorbitant medical costs associated with his illness. The family also asks members of the community to send them their fond memories of Duncan, to be included in a family scrapbook. Donations and memories may be sent to the Jim Duncan Medical Fund, P.O. Box 99, East Rockaway, NY 11518-2616.
