LT. (N) DUNCAN LESLIE MATHESON -

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LT. (N) DUNCAN LESLIE MATHESON 1961 - 2005 Duncan Leslie Matheson, son of Donald (Bud) and Patricia Matheson, was a quiet hero. In his uniquely elusive way, without ever saying much, he went about his business of making this world a better place. To those who knew him well, Duncan's heroism was very private. His presence in our lives brought us laughter and joy and strong sense of belonging to an extended family that was very special in so many ways. In exchange for his commitment to his family and friends, Duncan was unconditionally loved and supported by everyone he knew. For those whom he never met - the citizens of Canada for whom he worked and the citizens of countries in the Middle East where he was stationed on peacekeeping missions - he was an anonymous hero. They never knew, and will never know, how his actions contributed to their ability to live their lives with safety and security. Day after day, year after year, Duncan committed his life to those around him. From the time that he was a small child, he was caring and giving and loving. No request for support was ever turned down. No call was ever left unanswered. No detail was ever missed. He was always there for all of us. And for this, we love him more dearly than we can express in words. Duncan enrolled in the Naval Reserve in 1985, after graduating with a BA from the University of Saskatchewan. In June of 1988, he was transferred to the Regular Force as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant and was posted to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, where he conducted training at Venture Naval Officer Training Centre and on the HCMS PORTE DE LA REINE and the HMCS MACKENZIE. In 1989, Duncan was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant and was posted to the Canadian Forces Fleet School at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. He reached his present rank of Lieutenant (N) in 1991. Over the course of his distinguished career, Duncan served and trained in Maritime Forces Atlantic on the ships HMCS PROTECTEUR, PRESERVER, TERRA NOVA, AND FREDERICTON, Canadian Forces Station Shelbourne, the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre and the Canadian Forces Naval Operations. While with HMCS PROTECTEUR he was deployed as part of Operation FRICTION to the Arabian Gulf (January to April 91). During his five years on HMCS FREDERICTON, as the Command and Control Information Systems Officer and Officer of the Watch, he was deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia on Operation SHARP GUARD (December 1995 to March 1996) and as a Military Observer to Lebanon as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (January to August 1999). In 2002, Duncan was posted to Esquimalt, BC, where he served on board the HMCS CALGARY. January 2003 brought his final posting to Ottawa as an Operations Watch Officer within the National Defence Command Centre, where he was responsible for maintaining contact with all deployed Canadian Forces units and keeping the leadership of the Canadian Forces informed. Duncan was a great uncle, a great brother, a great son, a great friend, a great athlete, a great intellect, and a great officer. He was a great man. And he was our very own hero. Duncan's immediate family will miss him very, very much - mother, Pat Matheson; brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Sandie Matheson with their children, Foster and Emma; sister, Lisa Matheson, Michael Healey and their children, Ronan and Calen; special friend Karen Bash; and extended family, Mark, Mike, Murray and Heather Hinds. And to all the others that loved Duncan in your own private way, you are his family as well, and we share the pain of your loss and know that you will miss him as deeply. Visitations will be held on Thursday, April 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Friday, April 15 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Rd., Ottawa, ON (613) 737-7900. The funeral will take place on Friday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m. at CFB Uplands Base Chapel, Ottawa. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Foster Parents Plan Canada or the Children's Wish Foundation in memory of Duncan, who loved children everywhere.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 14, 2005