We are welcoming comments from the HESS members showing their personal and professional appreciation for Duane. If you haven’t yet, please click below or in the right window COMMENTS for DUANE to add to and view them.
For newer members who may not have met Duane, he led the California Hospital Association from 1985-2017. Before moving west, he began at the Kansas Hospital Association in 1966 and led the Missouri Hospital Association beginning in 1975 – that’s a lifetime of service to hospitals and the health care field. He was a friend to all and will be greatly missed!
Will share more information when received about any arrangements or opportunities to honor his memory!
Comments 15
Those who worked closely with Duane knew he was unwaveringly dedicated to hospitals, their mission and their success. He committed his career to the service of others. For those who knew Duane personally, he loved doing favors for people; he couldn’t say no; he was kind and thoughtful; he never failed to ask about your family; he always remembered the smallest details. My connection spanned 29 years and some of you knew him even longer. All of us, and most of all his wife, Diane, and family will miss him. Our deepest sympathy to all of his friends and colleagues in our hospital family.
Duane led us all in so many ways, from his role as President and CEO of the California Hospital Association for 33 years, to his inspiration for innovating and improving for better care, to his warm and wonderful friendship to us all. I smile every time I think of him, and remember sharing HESS dinners with him and talking about life, his loves, the meaning he always found in serving others, his leadership style and approaches, and his inspiration in shaping the agenda for HESS. He reached out to each of us to make us feel as though we were the only one in the room. He leaned in to learn always and was a great example of a person with incredible IQ, warm and wonderful EQ- empathy and emotional quotient, and CQ, curiosity quotient. Maureen
Duane had more energy and personality than anyone I have ever met. He had an amazing way to make you feel like you had been best friends for decades. He was a mentor and advocate for me personally and a strong supporter of California and its Hospitals. This is such a tragic loss. However, it is no surprise to me he died the way he lived – fast and with personality. Much love forever Duane. Carrie
What devastating news. Because Duane truly seemed ageless, I simply took it for granted that all of us would continue to benefit from his wisdom and grace for many years to come. Regardless of the anticipated wave of well-justified testimonials, his legacy can never be overstated. Current and future executives in our field who did not have the privilege of knowing him can now only imagine what an exceptional leader and role model he was. Consequently, we must be even more diligent in trying to emulate Duane’s values and innumerable virtues to make sure they always remain an essential part of our profession’s foundation. Paul
This is so hard to believe. Duane was and will be a major visionary. He was an icon, the classic ‘no guts no glory’ type of responsible risk guy. His contributions were and will be immeasurable. He will be in our life and Leadership styles forever.
Thank you for informing me of Duane’s tragic loss. I have known Duane since 1980 when he was the CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association and I was in Kansas City. He was a remarkably talented individual with an incredible amount of energy and an amazing intellect, as well as being genuinely nice and giving. Aloha. Art
Thanks for letting me know! I am deeply saddened. Duane and I served together on the AHA Board in the early 90’s. He was always a great friend. Lots of rounds of golf together in the memory bank. Drucilla and I will miss him. Michael
What a tragic loss! Duane was truly an icon. Duane was a true friend to everyone in healthcare . I had the privilege to meet Duane in 1982 when I became CEO of Christian Health Services in St.Louis Missouri and Duane was President of the Missouri Hospital Association. We became good friends and Duane became a true mentor to me as our careers progressed . He truly had no peers in understanding healthcare policy and was a true resource for all sectors of healthcare and public officials at the local , state and national level. He was brilliant but always humble and reached out to everyone on a personal basis. Duane will be missed but never forgotten. He is now at peace.
Duane was a man of great accomplishment and a wonderful friend for decades.
So sad. Duane nominated me for HESS. I owe him so much for personal and career reasons. He will be missed.
I am just heartbroken to hear about Duane. I’ve known him for over 30 years and he was indeed a giant among association execs. How sad indeed and blessings to Diane.
Duane was everybody’s best friend. He was peerless as a state hospital association executive. No one was more effective in dealing with public policy issues impacting healthcare than Duane! My heart is aching over this great loss.
Thank you for letting me know of this sad news. I am sending prayers to his family and friends.
What a loss! I was Chair of the California Hospital Assn Board during his tenure in the ‘80’s and have a couple of mildly amusing anecdotes from that period I’d love to share when we gather. Best wishes to his family.
I knew Duane from his participation with HESS and he was always kind and had such a bright smile. When he arrived to the events he was super organized, focused and eager to be there. I met his wife Diane a few times and she is a woman who brought genuine life to a conversation and a room. They both had unwavering dedication to their family, friends and colleagues and its evident this loss is felt deep and wide. Sending love and prayers.