tidings
Corey Connelly
Teacher, musician and actor Michael Anthony Duncan received a grand send-off on Friday befitting his contribution to Tobago’s cultural and entertainment landscape.
During his funeral service at St Patrick’s Anglican Church, Mt Pleasant, family and friends paid glowing tributes to the man who pioneered several music groups in Tobago and was a mentor and friend to many young performers.
Duncan, 71, died Aug. 10 after a brief illness.
He taught in several primary schools across Tobago including Montgomery Government, Bon Accord Post Primary Centre, Hope Anglican and Buccoo Government.
Duncan also fronted bands such as the Minstrels, Cocrico Singers, Youthquake and the Pleasure Pirates
Delivering the eulogy, an emotional Aisha Duncan-Quashie described her father as “the shortest giant I know”.
She said he was a gift from God who not only lived by his convictions and principles but tried to make everyone feel special.
Duncan-Quashie told mourners her father had been brought up in Mt Pleasant by his grandmother, a strict disciplinarian who modeled him on the Anglican church. This led to his involvement in the church’s youth movement.
She said Duncan’s love of music took off when “Mum” gave him his first guitar as a gift for passing the Common Entrance Examination (now the Secondary Entrance Assessment).
Duncan-Quashie also recalled that her father, who played Rawle Walker in the 1984 local television soap opera Turn of the Tide, was passionate about detail and hated mediocrity.
His charges, she said, were often accused of mispronouncing words in the national anthem and other nation-building songs.
She added that he believed in the power of love and in people reaching their full potential.
Renowned educator and former independent senator Dr Eastlyn Mc Kenzie taught Duncan Sunday school classes at the church.
Describing him as her son, Mc Kenzie said they became extremely close during the filming of Turn of the Tide, where he was known for his punctuality in rehearsals.
She said they remained close until his death.
“Mike will always be a boy to me. I will always love him,” she said.
Duncan’s grandchildren also did a brief segment expressing their love for “Pappy.”
In his homily, Archdeacon Philip Isaac recalled Duncan, whom he had known since childhood, had pioneered dance, drama and liturgical music in the Anglican church in the late 1970s.
“It became part of the church repertoire,” he said.
Saying that Duncan had used his talents to lift up his fellows, Isaac asked the congregation, “How do you spend your 24 (hours)?”
He said, while many may have envied Duncan, “We are all gifted with talents for God-ordained purposes.”
Isaac added: “Let us ask God to show us our talents and give us the courage to use them.”
He said Duncan may have helped people more under his tutelage than he did as a minister of religion.
Former THA assemblywoman Cynthia Alfred also paid a tribute.
During the service, members of the original Signal Hill Alumni Choir performed two songs, which were arranged by Duncan several years ago.
Duncan, who leaves to mourn his wife Cheryl, four children and seven grandchildren, was laid to rest in the churchyard cemetery.
