John Marshall Duker

John Marshall Duker died peacefully April 6th, 2020 at home at Brightview Severna Park with his wife of 66 years, Sally Ann Morse Duker. He was 90 years old.  John leaves his wife; four daughters, Marilynn Duker (Dale McArdle) of Baltimore, MD, Laurie Duker (Jeremy Rosner) of Silver Spring, MD, Tracy Anielski (Jeff Anielski) of San Diego, CA, and Gabrielle Gelinas (Bob Gelinas) of Needham, MA; and ten grandchildren, all of whom shared their love and memories with John in the days before his death.

John’s grandchildren, to whom he was so devoted, are Sarah Rosner of Brooklyn, NY, Ian McArdle (Hazel Joseph) of Bethesda MD, Jacob Rosner (Rachel Hoffman) of Chicago, IL, Flannery McArdle (Colin Smith) of Baltimore, MD, Zoe Gelinas (Patrick Enage) of Roslindale, MA, Sasha Anielski of San Francisco, CA, Dylan Gelinas of Boston, MA, Ryan Anielski of San Diego, CA, Skyler Gelinas of Waltham, MA and Kellen Anielski, of Santa Cruz, CA.

John was born in Stockton, California and grew up in Pasadena with two wonderful sisters, Mary Emma Mouton and Cathy Moran. When he was 10, he moved to Alaska for two years where he lived with his father and covered boxing matches for the local paper, learned to shoot a rifle, and hiked in the mountains with his father and Boy Scout troop. At twelve,  John and his best friend often took the money given them by their mothers for the Sunday collection plate and used it to see the Hollywood Stars play Sunday doubleheaders. Later, John served his country in the Army during the Korean War.

John was a successful businessman, who capped his career in sales and marketing by traveling worldwide as Vice President of International Marketing for Compugraphic Corporation. Previously he spent 21 years in sales and marketing at Varityper, a subsidiary of Addressograph Multigraph. He cherished his time traveling with his wife and European friends and enjoyed thirty years of retirement.

John was quick to laugh and laughed heartily. At 6 feet 7 inches, he exuded an out-sized presence. He could charm anyone and was genuinely curious and interested in getting to know everyone he met, invariably encouraging them to share more about themselves. He was a life-long learner who read widely and voraciously. He was an avid tennis player, bodysurfer, news junkie, gin rummy player and professional baseball, basketball and tennis fan. John developed a passion for classical music and opera as an adult and was thrilled to hear the music he loved in some of the great concert halls of the world.

John Duker, his daughters, and grandchildren were fierce competitors at board and card games, as well as kickball and baseball in the backyard and later, on the tennis court. John instilled in his entire family a passion for reading, politics, strong opinions, public service, music, sports, self-improvement and arguing. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He was an original.

Because of the current pandemic, there will be no public Memorial Service at this time. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in John’s honor to Court Watch Montgomery, an organization cofounded by one of his daughter’s that advocates for the rights of victims of domestic violence in the court system. Donations may be sent to Court Watch at 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 302, Silver Spring MD, 20910 or online http://www.courtwatchmontgomery.org\donate

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