Christopher William Duncan

He was born on the 26th of May 1971, in Schaumburg, Illinois, and graduated from Schaumburg High School. A lifelong fan of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox, the skilled writer achieved his dream by becoming a sports journalist. He studied at Indiana University’s distinguished School of Journalism, where he also worked as a beat writer for the Indiana Daily Student covering Bob Knight and the men’s basketball team. After graduating in 1993, Duncan was employed by the Times of Northwest Indiana before moving to the Associated Press, where he would remain for 20 years. Sports was always his forte, but his versatility shined when called on to cover breaking news stories including hurricanes, fires and court cases.

Duncan covered the Houston Rockets, Texans and Astros; the 2004 Olympic Games and numerous runnings of the Kentucky Derby; Division I sports programs including Texas A&M, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Kentucky; several PGA tournaments and countless other sporting events. He mentored many young journalists instilling confidence on how to handle any situation. His rapport and close relationships with athletes, coaches and team management helped him share fascinating stories with sports fans around the world.

Many of Duncan’s colleagues became longtime friends who will miss his dry-as-a-bone sense of humor and masterful delivery of one liners. Always up for adventure, he didn’t hesitate to S.C.U.B.A. dive, fly a glider, explore the Grand Canyon, play a round of golf at Pebble Beach or sky dive at a moment’s notice.

In 2013, after his kidneys succumbed to a degenerative disease, Duncan was given a new lease on life when his friend donated one of her kidneys. Duncan, his friends and family were extremely grateful for this generous gift.

Duncan is survived by his mother, Barbara Duncan and her partner Dick Del Frate of Tennessee; his father, David Duncan and his wife Melinda of Nevada; and his brother, Paul Duncan, his wife Jamie Cole and their children, Elmyra, Oakley and Anders of Trophy Club, Texas.

A celebration of Duncan’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 20th of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that friends become organ donors and support The Living Bank, 4545 Post Oak Place Dr., Houston, TX, 77027 (www.livingbank.org)