Obituary
JOHN J. DUNCAN
1943-2023
John (Jack) Duncan, 80 of Raymondville, NY passed away with his loving family by his side, at his home in Port Orange, FL on September 12, 2023.
Jack was born March 23, 1943 in Troy, NY to Robert and Florence (Keefe) Duncan. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carole (Latulipe) and his daughter Kathy Humphries and her husband, Neal; John and his wife Kimberly and his granddaughter, Arabella; and Mark and his wife Michelle.
He is also survived by his brothers Donald and his wife Anne, Kenneth and his wife Yvonne and sister Joyce Vecchiarelli and her husband Robert. He is also survived by his in-laws Betty Duncan, Theresa Sweet, Eleanor Latulippe, Cecille Miller, Leo and Jane Latulipe, Joyce Latulipe, Frank and Barb Latulipe, Brian and Lucie LaPlante and Gould and Anne Hunter along with numerous nieces and nephews and a host of long-time friends.
He was predeceased by his parents and brother David.
Jack graduated from Salmon River Central High School in 1961. He played hockey and baseball from 1958-1961 and football from 1959-1961. He served as Captain for two years in all three sports and achieved All-Northern status for three years in hockey and two years in baseball. He was drafted by the New York Yankee Baseball Organization in 1962.
After returning from his professional baseball stint, he returned to upstate NY to marry his sweetheart and settle in the area. He attended Rider College prior to reporting to spring training camp and graduated from Potsdam State in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He completed several graduate classes and received his teaching certification in 1973. After returning to upstate NY and prior to graduating college he was invited to a tryout camp for a World Hockey Association Team, the Ottawa Nationals. He also served as Asst. Hockey and Baseball Coach at Canton ATC and Potsdam College. He was also selected to compete on Team Canada All-Stars in the Kennedy International Memorial Winter Games which took place in Lake Placid in 1970.
He worked for Alcoa from 1964-69, then taught and coached Varsity ice hockey and Junior Varsity football at Salmon River Central High School (his alma mater). During his four-year coaching career at Salmon River, he led his hockey team to two League Championships. Jack also served as a hockey referee during this time (1969-1975). Jack worked for General Motors from 1977-1982, then went to Ogdensburg Free Academy for a year to teach and serve as Asst. Varsity Ice Hockey Coach. He transitioned from Ogdensburg to Norwood-Norfolk Central High School where he taught and coached Varsity baseball and ice hockey. The hockey team won Section X Championship in 1985 and he won Coach of the Year twice, in 1985 and 1987. While coaching baseball there, the team won the Section X Championships four times. He was named Coach of the Year for three of those years. He coached his sons during this time frame and played with them in the Northern Valley Baseball League, and other softball teams in the area.
Mr. Duncan played for the Fort Covington Travelers and Raymondville/Norfolk Rovers. He played for over 25 years and was awarded MVP and top batting titles numerous times. He played hockey with numerous teams throughout his lifetime, far too many to list here. Most notably he played for the Potsdam Pioneers (later Massena Pioneers). As one of the original members of the team, he held nearly every team scoring record and garnered numerous MVP awards, as well as Most Gentlemanly Player and Pioneer of the Year. The team had several international exhibition games including the West German and Czechoslovakian Olympic teams.
Jack retired from Riverview Corrections in 2000 where he served as Recreation Program Leader since 1989. He played hockey in the Correction Olympics and led his team to six gold medals. He also played several law enforcement tournaments with his daughter in Lake Placid during this time.
Mr. Duncan was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Salmon River Central in 2007.
Jack and his wife, Carole have enjoyed being snowbirds during the harsh NY winters. Jack continued to dominate softball diamonds in Florida, as he has been a standout in Senior League Softball since 2000. He also enjoyed golf with family and friends and won numerous tournaments in the north country.
There will be no formal funeral services. Condolences and memories may be expressed at www.baldwincremation.com
In lieu of flowers, his wishes are that we are more compassionate, understanding and kind to each other. Also recognize those whose service and sacrifice makes this world a better place.
“Pay it forward “
The 1976 PIONEERS
Just another picture after a tournament championship!
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Jack and I worked together at GM and I had the pleasure of playing hockey for the Potsdam Pioneers for seven years with him. I tried to count the number of hockey games that we played together and stopped counting at just north of 140 games. The highlights included the 1976 game against the West German Olympic team who we tied 5-5 at a sold out Clarkson Arena just a few weeks after they had won the bronze medal at that year’s Olympics. In 1980, just a few weeks prior to the Lake Placid Olympics, we played both the Russian and the Czech Olympic teams at sold out St. Lawrence and Clarkson arenas respectively. On top of that the number of ODHL championships that Jack had a big hand in orchestrating were both staggering as much as they were commonplace.
In the summer I played with Jack on two softball teams (in two different leagues) during the week and of course in tournaments with him the on the weekends. He couldn’t seem to get away from me nor I him! I think that you get the idea that I had the good fortune to spend a great deal of time with Jack over seven years and the better fortune to call him a great friend. Through all of that it was apparent to me that Jack was always the best player, best sportsman and upon reflection absolutely the best person!
Wherever we went whether the rink, the diamond or a social event Jack was the always the most respected person there. I quickly learned that the respect for him was a genuine, well deserved and deep respect for the man, the athlete but most importantly …The person. One of the most accurate definitions of a leader is a person who has the ability to “ Influence Behavior” and he did that naturally. He did things the right way and he didn’t cut corners. As a teammate I wasn’t alone in being influenced simply by Jack’s presence. I never wanted to let down any of my teammates down but most importantly Jack…and I wasn’t alone. That was a sentiment shared by everyone. He set that standard and it was up to the rest of us to live up to that in the best way we could.
The final emotion that kicked in for me that day was that of regret. The regret of getting caught up in life, as we all do, and never reaching out to Jack to catch up to see how he and Carol and the family were doing and to ultimately thank him for the positive influence that he had on me over those years. I was in my mid-late 20’s at the time and Jack was 10 years older. Back then I didn’t fully appreciate that I had a friend, teammate and co-worker that influenced me to the degree that he did. It helped shape me into who I would be later in life. Very few people are that fortunate to have had someone in their life that had that profound an impact on them.
He was a tremendous athlete and that is well documented. Above all else he was a true Gentleman and that to me is the greatest compliment a person can receive. That is a fading, almost elusive trait in today’s society but he was always the standard bearer for the term. The trophy’s tarnish, the newspaper clippings fade but the character of this man always shone through and was constantly on full display. We are all so much better, on so many levels, to have known Jack. If you are reading this you probably shared that good fortune and were blessed as well.
I have forwarded a few pictures from the Pioneer days both Hockey and Softball that I hope you enjoy.
Rest in peace my friend…A game well played and life well lived!
Frank Ireland
Gander, Newfoundland
Our condolences go out to all of you and your families in the loss of Jack. He was one of a kind and left a great legacy of his accomplishments and his children. Many memories of the “old timers’ “ softball games and good times after the games. He enjoyed playing as much as Terry and it was always a gift to have any of the Duncans’ on the team. He instilled in this children a great characteristic of good sportsmanship. May God give you the strength and courage to deal with your grief.
Carol and Terry Gladding
We were saddened to hear of Jack’s passing. The many years of playing hockey (Morrisburg, the Pioneers, Potbellies) and playing softball (Billy’s,The Cellar )were always very enjoyable! He was a talented, determined, teammate and friend—-a true sportsman. We have many fond memories of great times together.
Mel and Sandy Tomalty
The Cellar
Jack was a fierce competitor who fought to the end in every game I was ever in with him. And then after the game, the gentle giant came out. He always had a way of making things always work out, no matter how it might’ve looked. he is a great man and an incredible athlete! It is a sad time for all of us who knew him, and especially his immediate family. The world is a much better place because of who you were Jack Duncan! You left it all on the field
I know you are resting in peace
May You Rest in Peace Jack.
Jerry Hourihan
Jack was mine and my wife's very dear friend; strong, solemn, and genuine in an old school sort of way. We will miss Jack dearly and are thankful to have his cherished wife, Carol, to keep his memory alive. We love you Jack now and forever.
God Bless you all and cherish your beautiful memories. Jack will live on forever in your hearts and never be far away.
Frank and Anita Armstrong
You played a great game!
Luther
September 12/2023
Dave's big brother Jack,he looked up to you so much and I know he was waiting for you. You and Carol were special people,Dave always loved talking to you on the phone because he knew that wasn't your thing,Dave'smemory got bad but he never forgot who his big brother was. I am sad that you left us, please know that you were loved by many and there is a void in our family Love you your sister-in-law Betty.
Wish we could have been together more but we knew we were always be family Love you big brother. Joyce and Bob
Jim and Pat Keefe