Robert J. Duke

CDR ROBERT J. DUKE USN (RET), CDR ROBERT J. DUKE USN (RET), 78, of Stuart, Florida, passed away on March 5, 2011, at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, FL. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 17, 1932, Mr. Duke was a previous resident of Sommerville and Weymouth, Massachusetts, and Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from Weymouth High School in 1951, and consequently graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1954. Mr. Duke was a submariner in the United States Navy for over twenty-three years. He proudly served in Vietnam as the Commanding Officer of the USS Diodon (SS349), and served as Officer-in-Charge-Naval Underwater Systems Center (NUSC), Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Duke's Merchant Marine Services included serving aboard LNG tankers, as well as multiple cargo and military sealift command vessels. He also worked for Caterpillar, Inc., and was an American Maritime Officers (AMO) Engineering Instructor at the RTM Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research (STAR) Center in Dania, Florida. Recently, he was the Supervisor of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)Air Quality Division for the State of Florida. Mr. Duke was a member of the American Legion, Military Officers Association, Massachusetts Maritime Academy Association, and the VFW. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jean Duke (O'Leary) of Stuart, Florida; his son, Robert J. Duke Jr. (Marsha), of Stuart, Florida; daughter, Linda J. Arcouette (Robert) of Bristol, Rhode Island; son, Thomas E. Duke (Irene) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; son, John W. Duke (Catherine) of Middletown, Rhode Island; daughter, Lisa A. Duke of Jensen Beach, Florida; grandchildren, Roger Brown, Robin Duke, Bowen Duke, Jordan Duke, Brett Arcouette, Devin Duke, Matthew Duke, Benjamin Duke Camp, and John Duke; brother, Ronald Duke of Hanover, Massachusetts, and sister, Dorothy Andrews, of Weymouth, Massachusetts. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, March 10 from 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM at Aycock Funeral Home in Stuart, Florida with a memorial service beginning at 6:00 PM with family eulogies to follow. Additional services will be held in Rhode Island at a later date. Memorial Contributions may be made in Mr. Duke's honor to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Foundation in care of Gary L. Lowe, Dean of Development,101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02582. Online condolences may be made to Mr. Duke's family at www.aycockfuneralhome.net Arrangements are entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home, Stuart, FL. Paid Obituary