Duncan Erwin Shaw

Duncan Erwin Shaw, 85, died on July 10, 2015 in San Diego. Duncan’s wife, Sharon Viault Shaw, his parents, Duncan and Margaret Shaw; and his sister Joan Shaw Budinger, predecesase him. Duncan is survived by his daughters, Susan Shaw Hulbert (Doug) of San Diego and Sharon Shaw Crull (Timm) of St. Helena; by grandchildren Leah, Gabriel and Benjamin Hulbert of San Diego and Madeleine and Tucker Crull of St. Helena; by his niece Barbara Antoncich (Steven) and nephews Jerome Jr. (Dede) and Duncan Budinger (Mara), and by his great-niece Brittanie (Marc) Howard and great nephews Duncan and Chase Budinger. Duncan had been hospitalized following successful surgery to repair his aorta valve. Complications ensued, including contraction of a bacterial infection, so despite fighting valiantly Duncan passed away 45 days after the surgery, surrounded by his family.

Duncan was born on August 14, 1929 in Spokane, Washington, and his parents moved with him to Los Angeles when he was 6 weeks old. Duncan’s father, Marine Corps Colonel Duncan Shaw, spent much of Duncan’s adolescence away from home in World War II. Duncan attended Harvard School in North Hollywood and the University of Southern California, where he lettered on the golf team and was a member of Sigma Chi. After graduating from USC, Duncan attended USC Business School. He later joined the Los Angeles Country Club, where he played golf regularly with his father.

Duncan Shaw was a Marine like his father. He was a Captain in the Marine Corps assigned to Aviation. He deployed to the combat zone in the Korean conflict and continued his service as a reservist. Duncan was extremely proud of being a Marine and of serving his country. After returning from Korea, Duncan entered the food business and became National Product Manager for Carnation Company. He was responsible for the entire United States, building the Carnation brands such as Friskies and Coffee-Mate and stocking restaurants, hotels and institutions coast to coast. Duncan was active in the community, serving the Community Chest as its Division Chairman and the Boy Scouts of America – Los Angeles Chapter as an executive board member, as the Hollywood Wilshire District Chairman, and as the founder of the Walter O’Malley Boy Scout Invitational; in recent years he served as an Eagle Scout Review Board member for the Torrey Pines District, San Diego Imperial Council. Duncan is a recipient of Scouting’s Silver Beaver award. Also, Duncan worked with law enforcement management (sitting on committees to help select police officers), was an usher at All Saints Beverly Hills, and sat on the board of the Broad Bay Country Club during the years he lived in Virginia. Duncan was well-respected and built lifetime relationships in his community.

Duncan’s most enduring community activity began in 1954, when Duncan saw his father with a few other reserve Marine Corps Officers start the Devil Pups youth program, which teaches 14-17 year old young people citizenship, fitness, and personal responsibility in a ten-day camp at MCB Camp Pendleton. Duncan took his spot next to his father on the board and in 1976 Duncan succeeded his father as President; he was then elevated to Chairman and finally Chairman Emeritus. Duncan was a “full-time” volunteer of Devil Pups from the day it began in 1954 until the day he left for the hospital in 2015. He worked tirelessly running and building the corporation into a successful enterprise. He met and engaged with everyone from retired Marine Corps officers to businessmen interested in supporting the Devil Pups to parents grateful for the transformed youth returned to their care following the encampment. He took over management and operations as he promised his father he would. Right until the end of his life Duncan was deeply involved in the program, actively fund raising, writing letters, and producing reports. Throughout his life he spent thousands of hours in making sure that Devil Pups did not fail. He loved the program for all of its 62 years. His efforts have directly impacted the lives of 52,000 young men and women who have graduated from Devil Pups. Duncan was particularly proud that all three of his grandsons are Devil Pups graduates.

In 2013, Devil Pups Marketing Chairman Tim Mincarelli was admitted to the emergency room at Camp Pendleton after fainting on base. Not knowing the reason, Duncan, then aged 83, drove up from San Diego alone and waited in the emergency room for hours. Tim then woke up to see Duncan sitting by his bed. Duncan’s comment was “you need a Marine by your side when you go down.” This is who Duncan Shaw was.

Duncan Shaw, a devoted father and grandfather, was also always at the side of each of his family members, who are grateful for the many life lessons. He exemplified fortitude, determination, kindness and love, combining those Marine Corps qualities of courage, honor and commitment with grace, faith and compassion. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to do their best and try their hardest, and he was there to celebrate achievements when they excelled and to provide comfort when they faltered. He was a regular at his grandchildren’s activities—he could be found on the sports field, at Scout campouts, at concerts and plays, at school awards ceremonies, at church cookouts—whatever the activity in which his family was engaged, Duncan was there to support it. After he retired, Duncan drove countless carpools to soccer practice, to youth symphony, to Boy Scout meetings, to band practice, and to school--he marveled at the number of miles he put on his car, driving his grandchildren all over San Diego County. When the youngest grandchild got his driver’s license and entered his senior year of high school, and the oldest left for graduate school at UCLA, Duncan found a new purpose in taking care of the Hulbert family dog, sitting in the garden with Doodles at lunch time, feeding her the In N Out burgers that were on neither of their diets.

A memorial service and celebration of Duncan’s life will take place on Monday, August 3rd at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 2728 6th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103.

In lieu of flowers, please consider at donation to Devil Pups, P.O. Box 6607, Westlake Village, CA 91359