Edward F Duncanson

Edward F. Duncanson passed away on October 7, 2025, at the age of 83. Born on September 23, 1942, in Middletown, NY, to the late Fay and Marjorie Duncanson, Ed dedicated his life to education, swimming, and community service.
Ed was a life-long learner, earning degrees from Orange County Community College, New York University, University of Oklahoma, SUNY New Paltz, and a Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University. He taught science in several Orange County school districts, including as Science Department Chair for the Pine Bush Central School District, and later served as a professor at Western Connecticut State University.
His love of geology and space lead him to teach earth and space science. In Pine Bush, he led the development of the district's K-12 science program, securing grants and earning numerous national and state awards for innovation in teaching. In 1984, he began following the development of NASA's Citizen Observer Program that would eventually allow 10 Americans to fly on the Space Shuttle. In 1986, one of the proudest moments in his education career, he was selected as New York's representative for NASA's Teacher in Space Program. His proposed curriculum was used as the centerpiece of activities that were to be televised from the shuttle. He was in Florida on January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded. In the years following the disaster, he shared time in his classroom with the opportunity to travel the state to speak at memorial services, radio call-in shows, and making presentations to groups of students in grades 4-12, summer camps, teachers, college faculty, general public, and professional organizations. Following training at a NASA workshop, he was able to offer community members a chance to examine "moon rocks" that astronauts returned to Earth.
A lifelong swimmer, Ed was a competitive athlete, instructor, and coach whose impact spanned generations. As Pool Director in the Pine Bush School District, he built a comprehensive aquatic program and coached multiple high school swim teams to success. He was affectionately known as the "Water Wizard" for his passion and effectiveness in water safety education.
Ed was deeply involved in his community - a parishioner at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bullville, a Charter Member of the Bullville Fire Company, and active in various local committees and initiatives. He also enjoyed baking, cycling, genealogy, and outdoor adventures with his family.
Ed was a devoted father and loved his family. He would light up every time his family, children, or grandchildren walked through the door and enjoyed every moment he was around them.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ruth; children Brian (Joanne), Jennifer (Richard Scheitler), Cynthia (Brian Masters), Stephanie, and Michael (Elizabeth); brother Richard (Marlinda); and grandchildren Tyler, Brenna, Emily, Brock, Duncan, and Alexis.
Ed will be fondly remembered for his generosity of charity, swimming tips, genealogy and history research, dad puns, physics jingles (if you know, you know) and delicious home-baked goods.
There will be a viewing for Ed on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Applebee McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY 10940.
Ed's funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 2800 NY-17K, Bullville, NY 10915.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a donation to the Rails to Trails Conversancy or the Friends of Gettysburg.