Duane Ray Schermerhorn

It is with deep sadness that the family of Duane Schermerhorn announces his sudden death from a ruptured aortic aneurysm, in Toronto, on Friday September 28, 2018. Cherished husband of Patricia Stanley, Duane was predeceased by his only sibling and best friend Diane White, and his parents Mary and Arthur.  Born in Portland, Oregon, Duane was a graduate cum laude of Harvard College. He moved to Montreal in 1969, married his first wife Shirleen Ekroth, and began his career in Information Technology at Sun Life. In 1980 he moved to Toronto to be with and subsequently marry the love of his life, Patricia Stanley. After a decade of writing poetry and having four novels published, he resumed his career in Information technology at Sun Life, where he reached the level of Assistant Vice President. He then joined the Bank of Montreal until his retirement in 2003. Duane and Pat moved to Cobourg in 2002, where he began a successful website design and development business, from which he retired in 2015.  Duane loved animals (Bandit will miss him terribly), and was passionate about art and photography. He was concerned with the environment and the state of the world. Duane was a kind, gentle and generous man, with a great sense of humour, an amazing intellect, and a strong moral code. He loved to encourage people to talk to him about their passions, and was the best listener one could ever imagine.  Duane was on the boards of the Arts Council of Northumberland and the Art Gallery of Northumberland at various points during his time in Cobourg, and received the Town of Cobourg Civic Award for the Arts in 2011. He was recently appointed to the Cobourg Cultural Master Plan Steering Committee. Over the past 4 years Duane has been dedicating much of his time, energy and creativity to helping the Art Gallery of Northumberland achieve a strong, viable institution. He was also expanding his photography skills, and learning how to look at, understand and appreciate art in all its forms. He was volunteering, as usual, at the Gallery on the day of his death.  Duane will be missed terribly by Pat, Bandit, and all of his family, friends and working partners. He is irreplaceable in this world.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Art Gallery of Northumberland would be appreciated. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Art Gallery of Northumberland, Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg on Sunday October 21st, from 1 - 3 p.m.  More information will be available at the Gallery.