Duncan Foley was born in Appleton, WI on December 17, 1947, just in time for lunch, as he loved to say. He grew up with his parents, Joe and Dorothy Foley, and his elder brother, Joe.

In high school, Duncan took a strong interest in theater, especially lighting, but eventually reached a crossroad at which he chose Geology for his career path. He earned his undergraduate degree at Antioch College (1971), then went on to do his Masters (1973) and PhD (1978) at the Ohio State University.

Duncan’s first professional position took him to the Earth Science Lab at the University of Utah Research Institute. There he worked for eight years on projects related to geothermal energy. This took him to Yellowstone National Park, where for 30 years he taught a short summer course on the geysers, mudpots, and hotsprings of the park. Yellowstone became his beloved outdoor heart home!

In 1986, Duncan married Leslie Foster and later that year moved to Tacoma, Washington, to take a position teaching at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). Duncan joined the faculty of the Earth Sciences department at PLU and served the university and the department in many capacities until his retirement in 2016. All aspects of his roles in teaching, scholarship, and service were important to him, and he served as an excellent role model of an engaged member of the PLU community throughout his career.

Duncan's passion for helping people understand things went well beyond the students in his classes. He had a vast collection of photos depicting geologic hazards and resulting disasters, which he used to show audiences in the community that the landscapes we cherish are dynamic and there are dangers in ignoring geology. Some friends and family lovingly dubbed him "Dr. Disaster."

In 1992, Duncan and Leslie were delighted to welcome their son, Paul, into the world. Duncan devoted himself to fatherhood and made sure that Paul always felt loved and listened to, and he made sure to take Paul into the wilderness of Yellowstone and beyond, to show him the magic of the outdoors and the importance of valuing and preserving nature. Leslie and Paul were extremely fortunate to accompany him on his adventures. Every road trip was a geology field trip, and Paul knew how to swing a rock hammer as a young boy!

In his retirement, Duncan heartily enjoyed photographic pursuits. Additionally, thanks to Betchart Expeditions, he had a wonderful opportunity to be the ship-board expert on geologic landscapes on a number of National Geographic/Lindblad cruises on the Columbia River and in Alaska, as well as on a Heritage cruise around New Zealand.

In 2021, Duncan was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. He was extremely fortunate to have a 4 1/2-year period of stability after his first round of chemotherapy. Duncan spent those years volunteering with a wonderful care team associated with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Together the team organized outreach efforts to connect patients with resources and information about the disease and the roles of caretakers, clinicians, and researchers. He made a meaningful impact on the lives of many people suffering from Cholangiocarcinoma, and we are very proud of his contributions to this cause. This volunteer work earned him the distinction as a Points of Light honoree, which you can read about here. Points of Light - Duncan Foley

Throughout his life, Duncan maintained a generosity of spirit, an unshakable love for his family, a constant desire to experience, protect, and photograph the great outdoors, and a strong penchant for corny humor. Such a twinkle in his eyes! He was a live wire with a tremendous capacity for open-minded thinking. He developed his personal principles with care and stood by them fearlessly.

Duncan is sorely missed by Leslie and Paul, and all his family members and close friends. He passed away with family around him just after lunchtime on September 21, 2026.

At his request there will be no funeral or memorial service.