Duncan Talbot

Duncan Talbot passed away on December 5, 2022, his family, and friends by his side, after a long and difficult battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Duncan was born in San Luis Obispo, CA to Celia Talbot and shortly thereafter moved to Santa Rosa, CA. He attended Elementary and High School in Santa Rosa and earned his BS and MS degrees in Biology at Sonoma State University. Throughout undergrad and graduate school, Duncan financed his education by working as a rafting guide. As a professional guide, he met some of his true lifelong friends while rafting along the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and many of the beautiful rivers throughout the west. After earning his PhD from the University of Washington, Duncan continued to thrive academically and professionally. He completed his post-doc at the University of Wisconsin and went to work shortly thereafter at a start up in the field of plant genetics. Following a move to Missouri to work at Monsanto, Duncan accepted a position at the University of Connecticut as a biology professor. After several years at UConn, Duncan started his own company, KT Biotechnology, traveling the country teaching researchers the methods and data interpretation in the newly emerging field of PCR science. Duncan was an adjunct member of the faculty at UMass Lowell, University of New Haven and wound up his professional career working for Roche Diagnostics. Though he was a true California boy, Duncan embraced his adopted home of Rhode Island, especially the East Bay, immersing himself in all the good things that living close to Narragansett Bay offered. As an avid fisherman, he was happiest with his trusty fly rod out on any body of water but especially Narragansett Bay and the Rhode Island coast. Duncan was an unrelenting advocate for being who you are and doing what you want. Quick witted, he was known to say the funniest thing, usually a single word, while no one thought he was even listening to the conversation. Duncan was intelligent, and as an aficionado of collectibles (fishing stuff) he had the ability to win ANY auction on EBAY. Duncan loved his family dearly. His son was the light of his life, his relationship with his sisters and mother was cherished and he simply adored his wife. He was an amazing husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, colleague, and friend. He touched the lives of so many people. He will truly be missed and will never, ever, be forgotten. In the last years of Duncan’s life, he endured many health issues as a result of living with Parkinson’s disease. Despite these challenges, Duncan courageously fought Parkinson’s progression and found community with others by immersing himself in boxing, indoor cycling and exercise classes. Duncan was predeceased by his amazing sister, Marina Maggiore (POTW). Duncan is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Brumsted of Riverside, RI, son Jimmie Talbot of Cranston, RI, his mother Celia Talbot of Santa Rosa, CA, sisters Ellen Mark (Phil) of Cotati, CA and Lucy Davidson of Santa Rosa, CA along with many adored nieces, nephews, cousins, and all the amazing Narragansett Terrace friends and neighbors. Duncan’s family is forever grateful to Neville Matroos and Mary Sebert for invaluable support and care and surrounding Duncan in love in his last years. His family wishes to extend a special thanks to the dedicated staff of Silver Creek and the Hope Hospice team. The family requests any donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (https://www.michaeljfox.org/d…) A Celebration of Life is in the works; details will be forthcoming.

Duncan Talbot

November 12, 1950 - December 5, 2022