William R. Duncan M.D.

William R. DUNCAN, M.D. June 16, 1912 - April 13, 2003 Dr. William R. Duncan, a prominent orthopedic surgeon, passed away on April 13th at his home in Sequim. Born in Seattle, of a pioneer family, he was the son of John Alexander and Emma Duncan. He graduated from Franklin High School, University of Washington and McGill Medical School in Montreal. He trained at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in WW II for 1942 to 1945. Dr. Duncan returned to Seattle to practice in 1945 and became nationally recognized as the founder of many programs in the Northwest providing care for children with cerebral palsy. He helped establish Boyer Children's Clinic and Preschool, the Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Children's Hospital and acted as consultant to Lowell School and the Washington State Cerebral Palsy Center. He was a member of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons, Seattle Surgical Society, North Pacific Orthopedic Association, Western Orthopedic Association, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and American Orthopedic Association. He was well recognized and respected among the medical community. He moved to Sequim, Washington in 1961 and commuted by private plane to Seattle on a weekly basis and also had an office in Port Angeles. He was a member of the Clallam County Medical Society and on the staff at Olympic Memorial Hospital. He served with his wife on the CARE-MEDICO Emergency Team for a month in Algeria in 1963 and again in the Dominican Republic in 1979 on a voluntary basis. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. John Duncan, and sister, Margaret Schmitz. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Duncan, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Surviving, in addition to his wife, Elene, of 54 years are five children: sons, William B. Duncan of Portland, Thomas E. Duncan (Rhonda) of Burien and Robert R. Duncan (Mary Jane) and children Alastair, Danika, Clara and Will of Anchorage, Alaska and Carl Graves of Chicago. Daughters, Dr. Adah M. Duncan of Manhattan Beach, CA. and Carolyn Rice (Chuck) of Sequim. Memorial Services: Wednesday, April 23 at 1 p.m. at Sequim Presbyterian Church, 950 North Fifth Avenue followed by a reception at the church. Memorials may be made to The Duncan Seminar, Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA. 98105.