In loving memory of Cynthia Ann Duncan
Born: October 9, 1941, in Pittsfield, MA
Died: April 21, 2018, in Fort Collins, CO
Lived in: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Los Angeles, Houston, Fort Collins, Boulder, and Salida. “Home” is considered to be Salida
Cause of Death: Kidney infection and pneumonia as a result of complications from dementia.
Accomplishments:
• Cynthia was one of just two women in her Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy 50-person, 2-month training and certification course – she graduated 2nd in her class!!
• Her completion of the CLETA training facilitated her becoming the first female police officer in Salida.
• Worked for Salida Police Department, starting out as a police dispatcher, and then as animal control and parking enforcement (yes, downtown Salida used to have parking meters), and then as a full-fledged police officer.
• After moving to Fort Collins, she became a campus police officer at Colorado State University.
• After raising four children, obtained a BA in social sciences with minors inconflict resolution and Russian language, arts, and history, graduating Suma Cum Laude from CSU in 1984.
• Traveled to Russia for six weeks in 1984 and stayed with host families in various cities.
• Also obtained a Master’s degree in social sciences and graduated with honors from CU Boulder in 1988.
• While taking 18 credits herself each semester, she also taught graduate classes at CU while still working full time in CU senior administration.
• Her master’s thesis was on sexual discrimination against women in higher education administration.
• Wrote and maintained first sexual harassment policy handbook for all CU campuses.
• Listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges 1984” (page 396).
° Also Phi Kappa Phi and Student of the Year Award and multiple scholarships.
• Retired from CU Boulder after more than 16 years in senior administration.
• Was, ironically, the editor of a published book on Alzheimer’s.
• Was an avid reader and did professional editing and speech-writing.
• She and her husband, Paul Duncan, co-owned Magnum Sporting Goods in Salida for many years and also sold antiques for the first three years of their retirement together.
• Did volunteer work at Longfellow Elementary School and with Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Upper Arkansas Service Club, Lions Club, and Habitat for Humanity.
Survived by:
Husband – Paul T. Duncan
Children – Amy Duncan Hannel, Alan Duncan, Jill Duncan, Susan Duncan
Grandchildren – Brooke Vandegrift, Thomas Vandegrift, Brianna Duncan
Siblings – Jonathan Hewett, Peter Hewett, Pamela Gilbert
Sister-in-Law – Debbie Hewett
Cynthia has several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Harold James Jr. and Lois Evelyn Hewett, and her brother Harold “Jim” James Hewett III.
Cynthia Duncan was a truly accomplished individual, but even more so, she was a generous and cherished friend to many, and a very devoted and beloved wife and mother. With the onset of dementia nearly 10 years ago, her active participation in our lives has been greatly missed for some time. As the disease progressed, having never lost her warmth and kindness, we loved all the “versions” of her, and her passing now leaves a void in the lives of friends and family that will be difficult, if not impossible, to fill. Cynthia Duncan was a lovely human being and an amazing example to us all. She will be deeply missed.
Details on a memorial service for Cynthia to be announced soon.
