July 3, 1930 - Oct. 11, 2012

MISHAWAKA — Russell Dean Duncan, 82, of Mishawaka, passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Hearth at Juday Creek, Granger.

He was born on July 3, 1930, the son of Frank B. Duncan of Mishawaka, a pharmacist at Elkhart General Hospital, and his wife Helen E. (Mosher) Duncan, who taught school in Mishawaka.

He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1948. He received a Bachelor of Science in 1952 and a Master of Science in 1953 from Indiana State Teachers College.

Dean taught double bass students and was an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University South Bend, Saint Mary’s College and Goshen College, and at summer workshops at Indiana State.

He played for many years in the Elkhart Symphony and retired from the South Bend Symphony after 41 years of service in May 1998.

Dean taught band, orchestra and choral music in public schools in northern Indiana, southern Michigan and in New York state for 15 years.

“I then decided to take a year off to play duplicate or tournament bridge. It was so much fun I never went back to full time teaching.” He became an avid duplicate bridge player, an Emerald Life Master.

Dean was a 1952 Founding Father of the Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa at ISTC and in 1954 became a Founding Father of the Indiana Delta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Indiana State.

He was an active member of the Alumni Volunteer Corporation for over 30 years.

Memorial services for Dean will be at a later date.

Palmer Funeral Home - River Park is assisting with arrangements.

Contributions in memory of Dean may be donated to Elkhart County Symphony Association, P.O. Box 144, Elkhart, IN 46515, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, 127 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601 or to the Dean Duncan Scholarship for Academic Excellence, c/o Sigma Phi Epsilon Foundation, 310 S. Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220. Online condolences may be left at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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