One day at Roosevelt Elementary School, storyteller Dennis Duncan and I were chatting while waiting for my third graders to come in from lunch recess for his weekly tale.
I mentioned something to him about a colleague whom I greatly respect, and he responded by saying, “Yeah, she’s one of the good guys.”
Having known Dennis for some years by then, I knew what he meant.
He was expressing his respect for teachers, and others, who appreciate that children are complete, multidimensional human beings, and that their hearts and feelings are as important as their intellects.
Dennis Duncan had a wonderful gift of being able to help people of all ages hope to be better than they thought they could be.
And he shared that gift with grace and compassion.
His passing marks a loss to all.
Dennis was a paragon of The Good Guy.
I deeply value my memories of him.
Craig Chambers
Port Townsend
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dennis Duncan, longtime storyteller and recipient of a Clallam County Community Service award in 1996-97, died April 21.