Duane Berentson 1928-2013

Anacortes native Duane Berentson, 84, died peacefully on July 5, 2013 in Mount Vernon. I knew him as Uncle Duane, my dad’s brother. Whether he realized it or not, he was an important role model for me, especially in my young life. Duane bought me my first baseball mitt, encouraged me as a college journalism student … and even employed me for an exciting season when he campaigned for the Republican nomination for governor in 1980 (large photo). Duane lost the primary battle to King County Executive John Spellman, who went on to serve two terms as governor. But he landed the job as state Secretary of Transportation, where he served admirably for 12 years. Duane’s loss in the 1980 primary sent me north to Anacortes again, and that’s a good thing. Duane will be missed by many … he impacted lives in his capacity as friend, athlete, teacher, coach, civic leader, legislator and WSDOT chief. He was a great family man, too. As Wallie Funk (who traced his friendship back to schooldays in Anacortes) said yesterday: Duane was “an All-American boy.”