Gordon Duncan

Gordon Duncan, age 84, of Redmond, WA died October 7, 2016 at Emerald Heights in Redmond, Washington after a fall and an illness of several months. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy G. Duncan, his son Craig and wife Crystal, daughter Barbara and husband Jim Kaplon, son Mark and wife Karen, and son Robert and wife Janet. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Born in Weehawken, New Jersey, Gordon was the only son of Frederick and Mildred Duncan. The family moved from New Jersey to Long Island, New York where Gordon was raised. He attended the Agricultural College at Cornell University. His activities at college included rowing for the Lightweight Crew, and the Air Force ROTC which led to 4 years in the Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant and service for 13 years in the Air National Guard. Boating and flying became life-long interests. Gordon graduated from Iowa State University in 1960 where he earned a PhD in Physiology. He began his career as a research scientist in 1961 at the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan and spent the next ten years in Reproductive Research. An offer came luring him west to Seattle to work at the Battelle Memorial Institute in the Population Study Center. He was co-founder of PATH, the Executive Director and later a Member of the Board of Directors. He had a strong commitment to maternal and child health especially in lesser developed countries. Gordon returned to Upjohn in 1980 as Vice-President of Research retiring in 1991 returning to the Northwest to enjoy sailing, flying, skiing and hiking. Gordon's career was dedicated to drug and device discovery, development, and approval both in the U.S. and overseas. He worked with U.S. based global pharmaceutical and several biotech companies and with international non-profit research and development institutions. He discovered and developed medically unique drugs and devices as well as a number of products now used commercially. Gordon combined several of his interests when volunteering his time including a cattle ranch in Wyoming where the family flew to help at branding time and to separate calves at marketing season. He traveled internationally for work and on sailing trips to the Mediterranean, New Zealand, the Caribbean and around Vancouver Island. He donated his time and plane with an organization called Angel Flights to fly patients needing treatment in major medical centers. Gordon Duncan was a True Scot and had a life well lived. The family wishes to thank the many staff who provided health care for him. In lieu of flowers we suggest donations to The PATH Endowment Fund or The Salvation Army.