Obituary
Alexander Duane (80) born January 29th, 1940 in Manhattan, NY, passed away from his battle with melanoma on March 19, 2020 at the AdventHealth Ocala Hospital in Florida.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia Casey Duane of Silver Springs, FL, his son James C Duane (married to Uta) of Gensingen, Germany, his daughter Julie Duane Kloetzli (married to Robert) of Brunswick, MD. He is also survived by his brother Ralph B Duane (married to Helen Kennedy) of Silver Springs, FL, and his grandchildren, Laura Duane, Linda Duane and Wendy Kloetzli. He was preceded in death by his parents Gertrude and W R Galt Duane of Mallorca, Spain and his brothers W Richard G Duane (his wife Jeannine) of Long Valley, NJ and Carlton Reid Duane (died in infancy).
Al proudly served in the US Army. He was a member of a little theater group, the Kensington Players, as well as a camp trained adult with the Girl Scouts of America, and a member of the American Radio Relay League as a ham radio operator with the call sign W3BCF. He had many jobs including as a locksmith, a notary, a real estate agent and an appliance repairman but he worked most of his career with C&P Telephone Company until he retired. He was a volunteer paramedic and/or firefighter III with the Wheaton Rescue Squad, Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department and Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department all in Maryland. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Florida eventually finding their home in Silver Springs, Florida. He volunteered as a blacksmith and docent with the Silver River Museum and Silver River State Park. He also volunteered with the Citizen’s On Patrol with the Marion County Sheriff’s department. He loved his tools, and making things, along with helping anyone around him. He was quick with a joke or a pun that would make everyone groan. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
It was his wish to have a memorial service at the Silver River State Park in Florida, which we will plan once the pandemic is over and it is safe to have a gathering again. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery and we will share that date once we receive it.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Duane Volunteer Fire Department in Duane, NY, a town steeped in Duane family history. He loved to visit Duane and to support the Volunteer Fire Department. Checks may be made to the Duane Volunteer Fire Department and mailed to 172 CR 26 Malone, NY 12953, in his honor.
We remained good friends and workmates, right up until his retirement and eventual move to Florida. Al was never at a loss for words and you always knew where you stood with him. We had some really fun times as well as some serious times when Al's skills as an Emergency Medical Technician went into action. AL would never walk away from an injured person or accident victim, never! He was one of the rare people in this world and I am proud to have known him, and called him my friend. The world would be a better place with more Als in it.