GERTRUDE LOUISE (RICHARDSON) DUNCAN July 20, 1931 – May 30, 2026

Gertrude (“Gertie”) Duncan was born in Portland, Maine, the youngest of seven children of Edward D. Richardson and Una Williams Richardson. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, having been predeceased by her parents, five brothers, and her sister.

Educated in the Portland public schools, Gertie graduated from Portland High School in 1949 and completed her nursing training at Maine Eye & Ear Hospital (now Maine Medical Center) in 1952. After passing her state boards and becoming a registered nurse, she left Maine for New York, where her sister and brother‑in‑law lived. She began her career as an RN at Queens General Hospital. It was her brother‑in‑law who introduced her to the man who would become her husband, Augustus Pinder Duncan. Together, they built a family and a life in Elmhurst, Queens.

While raising her children, Gertie continued to pursue her education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hunter College while working as a private duty nurse. A passionate believer in the power of education, she later joined the New York City Board of Education, teaching adults in the Manpower Program to become practical nurses. She went on to train high school students in vocational nursing programs throughout the city. Her dedication to teaching led her to earn a master’s degree in special education, after which she taught high‑needs students in New York City high schools until her retirement in 1994.

Gertie loved to see the world. Her travels took her to England, Hong Kong, Jamaica, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. After the passing of her beloved husband Gus, she embraced quilting and became an enthusiastic member of the Ebony Quilters in Jamaica, Queens. Eventually, she chose to return to Portland to be closer to family and friends and to live life, as she often said, “as it ought to be.”

She leaves to mourn her daughter, Ellyn Duncan Petersen, and her husband Charles; her son, Augustus Duncan Jr., and his wife Roberta; her devoted caregiver and friend, Annette Mason; nieces and nephews in Maine and across the country; her Williams Temple Christian family; and many cherished friends and neighbors.

There will be no visiting hours. A Graveside Service honoring Gertie’s life will be held at 11 AM Wednesday June 10, 2026, at Forest City Cemetery, 232 Lincoln Street in South Portland.