Rudy Duran Obituary

Ignacio resident Rudy John Duran Sr. died Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Mercy Regional Medical Center. He was 70.

Mr. Duran was born to Lucia and Andy Duran Sr. on Aug. 7, 1939, in Durango. Most of his elementary education took place

in one-room school houses in the area of Telluride. He graduated from Ignacio High School.

Mr. Duran graduated from Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, Okla., with an associate degree in education. While at

Bacone, he was on athletic scholarships in basketball and baseball for two years, including playing in the first Junior

College World Series at Miami, Okla. After earning a baseball scholarship at Adams State College in Alamosa in 1958,

Mr. Duran graduated with a bachelor's degree in secondary education with majors in physical education and science.

On Dec. 27, 1959, Mr. Duran married Joyce Hood at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio.

His first teaching assignment was at Capulin in the San Luis Valley, where he taught science and coached baseball.

After his wife's graduation from Adams State the next year, Mr. and Mrs. Duran began their teaching careers in Newcomb,

N.M., which is part of Central Consolidated School District No. 22.

He completed his master's in psychology and counseling in 1964 at Adams State College.

Mr. Duran was an educator and counselor for 43 years. He taught high school biology for 12 years and spent the next 31

years counseling in Ignacio, Aztec, Kirtland and Shiprock, N.M. He coached baseball and basketball at every school. Mr.

Duran received numerous awards for coaching, including being named the Boy's Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986 in

his division. Mr. Duran was the president of the Teachers' Association in School District No. 22 in Kirtland, N.M., in

1973. He retired as a counselor and coach in Shiprock in 2003.

While teaching in Ignacio, Mr. Duran was chairman of the board of St. Ignatius for nine years. He was involved in

building the new church, which was completed in the mid-1980s.

Mr. Duran enjoyed playing golf, fly fishing, skiing and backpacking with his children, grandchildren and friends. His

greatest pleasure in life was helping his students prepare for their careers. His wife said he helped students get

scholarships to schools such as Harvard University and the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and if students had

not graduated, he would encourage them to continue studying so they could.

“He loved being deeply involved in his Christian life with his friends and neighbors," his family wrote. “He cherished

his time with his children and grandchildren, and considered himself blessed to have spent all 70 years of his life

among his friends and family."

Mr. Duran is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce Duran, of Ignacio; sons Rudy John Duran Jr. of Farmington, John

Emerson Duran of Sedona, Ariz., and Michael Anthony Duran of Española, N.M.; brothers Andy Duran Sr. of Port Angeles,

Wash., and Chris Duran and Jack Duran Sr., both of Ignacio; sisters Lily Swan Myer of Florida Mesa, Ilene Candelaria

and Yolanda Duran, both of Ignacio, Corrine Trujillo of Colorado Springs and Martha Palamino of Riverside, Calif.; and

two grandsons.

A rosary will be recited and visitation will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church

in Ignacio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2010, also at St. Ignatius. The

Rev. Anthony Flores will be the celebrant. Burial will occur at Ignacio East Cemetery.