Duane Starcher, a retiree from the School of Music and establishing director of the Educational Television Centre at Memorial University of Newfoundland, died on Dec 3, 2025 at the age of 93 1/2.
Before coming to Memorial in 1967, he was an associate professor in general studies and assistant director of broadcasting at Western Michigan University. Earlier, he was a teaching fellow in music literature at University of Michigan, where he completed a Master of Music degree.
Throughout his life he pursued a wide range of interests, learning for the sake of learning itself, teaching for the sake of sharing skills and knowledge. He built a geodesic dome to grow unwilling tomatoes in the harsh climate of Newfoundland, established a juggling club at the university, played cello in the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, sailed a sailboat, skied, went scuba diving, built furniture, learned silk painting and printmaking, and read steadily about science and astronomy. He was an avid photographer throughout his life, exhibiting his work at the Arts & Culture Centre and sharing his stereo photography and skills with others online.
He was curious and intelligent, sensible and reliable, artistic and practical, full of dry humour and wit, and with a steady, loving presence. He will be greatly missed.