Gerald S. Duncan

Maj. Gerald S. Duncan, USMC (Ret.), died peacefully of cancer Oct. 1, 2026, in San Diego, surrounded by family. He was 87.

Jerry was born in Chicago in 1938, the oldest of Ruth (Mahan) and Elmer Duncan’s children. He grew up in the city with his cherished siblings, Mike, Pat, Bill and Kathy. His earliest memories involved attending baseball games at Wrigley Field, sparking a lifelong love of the Cubs and sports in general that continued until his final day, which he spent making picks for his fantasy football league. He attended Stockton Grammar School and Senn High School.

After graduation in 1956, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served 10 years as an enlisted Marine, working in administrative, security and training roles. He was commissioned as an officer in 1966 and served as administrative officer, unit legal officer and adjutant. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War, one in Vietnam and the other in the Philippines, where he worked on Operation Homecoming to bring POWs back to the United States. He retired from the military in 1981, after earning a bachelor’s degree from Park College in Missouri. In later years, he also earned master’s degrees from USC and Pepperdine University. Jerry’s post-military career included work as an industrial engineer at General Dynamics in Tucson, Ariz.

While stationed in Newfoundland, Canada, in 1957, Jerry met the love of his life, Teresa Ennis, our family’s patient saint. They married in Chicago in 1959, with his best friend, Don Nelson, serving as best man. Jerry and Teresa had three children and, as duty called over the years, moved the family to the East Coast, the Midwest and the West Coast before retiring in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Jerry and Teresa led an active, fun-filled life, attending the World Series, the Kentucky Derby and too many other sporting events to mention. They loved their TV detective shows, music and singing (shout-out to all of the long car rides listening to them butcher Fats Domino, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra) and traveling the world, especially on cruises with family and friends. They had deep, long-running friendships with the Nelson, Ross, Coco, Dickson and Chatelle families, treasuring the decades of fellowship, support and fun. And no tribute would be complete without noting Jerry’s love of gambling and games (Yahtzee, backgammon, Scrabble, poker, keno, cribbage). You name it, he bet on it.

Above all, Jerry, known affectionately to his grandkids and great-grandkids as “Papa Sam," loved his family and was proud of the legacy he left behind. He taught all of us how to do a proper salute, and we say our final goodbye with love and gratitude. His final wish: “No wake, just a celebration of the joy and good fortune I had in my life."

He is survived by his beloved wife, Teresa; children Tim (Barbara), Colleen (Steve) and Elizabeth (Tim); grandchildren Angela (Pete), Amanda (Brandon), Tom (Amber), Kate (Nathan), Jenna (Harrison), Emily (Ovo) and Phoebe; great-grandchildren Caebrin, Beckham, Sloane, Teddy, Camden, Winnie, Bo, Hazel and Finn; and brother Bill (Wendy) and sister-in-law Ann.

A celebration of Jerry’s lucky life is being planned for next spring.