Duncan Ward Smith

Duncan Ward Smith, 87, passed away on December 22, 2024 in Seminole, Florida. He was born June 2, 1937 in Providence, Rhode Island to Ralph Gordon Smith and Eleanor Owers Smith. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and in St. Louis, Missouri.

Duncan received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Principia College followed by a Master's degree in Russian from Middlebury College. He began his teaching career at Harris Teachers College teaching both French and Russian. He later continued his higher education at the University of Washington, where he met Kate Kinley Gregg while living in the Russian House near campus, a residence for those wishing to immerse themselves in the Russian language to gain more fluency. They married in 1963 and had two daughters.

Duncan was a linguist having taught numerous languages including French, German, Russian, English, and Spanish throughout his career in both the U.S. and Austria where he lived for over 30 years. While teaching at the University of Alaska, he joined the Board of Directors of ANPI (Alaska Northwest Properties Inc). ANPI took over Alaska Airlines in the 1970's and brought it back from near bankruptcy, laying the foundation for the great airline it is today.

Duncan considered himself a "travelholic" having first traveled to France in 1957 on the ship Liberte, one year before the first jets crossed the Atlantic, to study in Paris and sightsee throughout Europe. This trip was the catalyst that transformed his life. He became a silver and life member of the Traveler's Century Club. Silver membership is for people who have traveled to at least 150 countries. He said he stopped counting at around 160 countries. He once bought an airline ticket around the world with stops in 17 cities he wanted to visit. He took only a bag the size of a purse which forced him to travel quickly as he had no luggage. He managed to circle the globe, including the 17 cities, in only 21 days. His lifelong goal was to see as much of the world as possible which he did by every measure.

Duncan was a genealogist at heart and was extremely proud of his Mayflower ancestry. He was descended from 20 passengers of the Mayflower including 10 signers of the Mayflower Compact. He was a member of the Mayflower Descendants in St. Louis in 1961 and later became a charter and life member, number 14, of the Mayflower Society in Alaska.

Duncan had a charismatic personality and was fun to be around. He was a fantastic storyteller and could make people laugh no matter the circumstances. He had a contagious laugh, was witty, and had a great sense of humor that made people gravitate to him. He was one of the most interesting people anyone could ever hope to meet and had an entertaining story for every occasion. He never failed to light up a room with his uniquely engaging and playful personality. He was the type of person everyone remembered and enjoyed being around.

He spent the last 20 years in Seminole, Florida which he considered, after traveling all over the world, his Shangri-la. His passing is a tremendous loss to those he left behind and he will be forever missed by those lucky enough to have known him. He is survived by his daughters Sophia Gregg Reimer (Bernard Yasuo Reimer), Consuelo Gregg Scott (Leslie Walter Scott), and his four grandchildren Nicolas Liam Reimer, Christopher Nolan Reimer, Brenna June Scott, Alexander Neal Scott, as well as his twin sister Deborah Hall. A private memorial service was held at Indian Rocks in Seminole, Florida per his wishes.