Michael John Duckor

1945 - 2017

Michael John Duckor August 3, 1945 - March 6, 2017 San Diego Attorney Michael John Duckor passed away peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2017 after bravely battling brain cancer, due to melanoma, for the past 18 months. He was 71. Mike was born on August 3, 1945 at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles and subsequently moved with his parents to Sunnyvale, CA. It was there he met and married his first wife Anita. Their son Brent was born shortly thereafter. Mike earned his B.A. from UC Davis in 1967. He then attended UC Davis School of Law, obtained his J.D. in 1970, and was admitted to the California Bar in 1971. He was Associate Editor of UC Davis Law Review 1969-70 and past president of the UC Davis Law School Alumni Association. In 1970, the law firm of Gray Cary Ames & Frye (now known as DLA Piper) gave Mike an offer to join the firm as an associate, which brought him to San Diego. In 1978, he and longtime friend and fellow attorney, Gary Spradling, founded their own law firm, then known as Duckor & Spradling. Mike retired from the law practice in 2009, but continued to do mediation and special master work until he became ill in 2015. In 1980, Mike married his wife Linda. They settled in East County where they raised their three lovely daughters, Jessica, Becky and Katie. Mike traveled extensively, but his favorite place was Hawaii. He loved the beach and snorkeling. He was a voracious reader, an avid fisherman, and an average Sunday golfer. He wrote four children's books and one novel. His passion for cars began at the age of three. His mother said he could name every kind of car on the road. In 2002, Mike's passion switched to motorcycles. He owned several Harley-Davidsons and finally his prized Indian motorcycle. He and fellow attorneys Bill Burnell and Gary Glauser planned semi-annual trips to Northern California, Colorado and Utah, in addition to the Saturday and Sunday day trips to all parts of San Diego County, always ending in the search for the best burger. Mike was a Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators. He was a member of the National Order of Barristers. Mike was a founding member and very active in the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and served as past president 1995-96. He was past Chairman of the Board of Project High Hopes, placing at-risk gang members as employees at law firms and other businesses, giving them a way out of the gang life. He served as subcommittee chairman of the San Diego Blue Ribbon Task Force on Violent Crime and was named Peacemaker of the Year by the San Diego Mediation Center. He served on the San Diego Advisory Board of City National Bank 2002 2008. Mike leaves behind his mother Gloria Duckor (Sonoma and San Diego) and his brother Howard Duckor and wife Noriko (San Francisco). He was preceded in death by his father, Lewis Duckor. He leaves behind first wife Anita Sperry Duckor (Minnesota), his son Brent Duckor and wife Barbara (San Francisco), and his granddaughter Sydney Duckor (San Francisco). He also leaves his wife of 36 years, Linda Alexander Duckor, and his daughters, Jessica Omohundro and husband Scott; Becky Duckor; Katie Evans and husband AJ; and the two most special dudes in his life, his grandsons Luke and Ryan Omohundro. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Catamaran Hotel. There will be a private burial at Singing Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Mike's name to the Institute for Brain and Society at brainandsociety.org, 501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101.