Linda Ann Duncan

Linda Ann Duncan Dec. 10, 1948 ~ Jan. 7, 2009 Resident of Lafayette Linda Ann Duncan, of Lafayette, California passed away peacefully on January 7, 2009 from a brain tumor. Linda was born to Howard and Betty Nelson in Chicago, Illinois, and soon moved to California where Howard began his teaching career at UCLA. The family lived in Tarzana for many years, and later in Woodland Hills, California. Linda graduated from Reseda High School in 1966, and from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Linda received her Master's in Library Science at the University of California at Berkeley in the summer of 1971. Linda began her lifelong career as a children's librarian in 1972 and worked at libraries in San Pablo, El Cerrito, Walnut Creek, Orinda, and San Ramon. She met her future husband, Jim Duncan, while working at the Pleasant Hill Library, and they were married on September 9, 1981 in Jackson, Wyoming. For most of her career Linda served as Contra Costa County's Children's Specialist at the Central Library in Pleasant Hill, California, a position she held since 1981. Linda touched the lives of literally thousands of children and was instrumental in helping many of them become avid readers. Throughout her adult life, Linda also sponsored reading materials and other aid for children in Guatemala and was instrumental in organizing annual charity fundraising efforts among library staff for families both locally and abroad. She was a long-time member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International. Linda's passions were world travel, reading, social causes, gardening, hiking, tropical beaches, cats, Peet's Coffee, live music, and the culture of New Orleans. She and Jim attended the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival each of the last sixteen years. They also traveled together to more than forty countries in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. Linda will be remembered not only for her infectious laughter, ribald sense of humor and unique ability to find amusement in even the most mundane aspects of life, but also for her selflessness and compassion for others. She was a devoted mother and a loyal friend to many and left a lasting impression on those whom she knew. Linda is survived by her loving husband of twenty-seven years, Jim, and her daughter Sara, of Lafayette, California. She also leaves behind her parents Howard and Betty Nelson, and brother Jim Nelson, all of Carmichael, California. A celebration of Linda's life will take place at 3pm on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette, CA 94549. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up in Linda's name with the Contra Costa County Library to help provide an endowment for reading programs for children. Linda was very committed to ensuring that these programs continue to be available in our public libraries for kids of all economic backgrounds. Any donations should be sent to: Contra Costa County Library at 1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, with a note that indicates "Linda Duncan Memorial Fund."