Southern CA Huskies

Husky profile: Gary, ’73 & Susan Duck, ’73

Gary Duck, ’73, Ph.D., Political Science
Susan Duck, ’73, M.S.W., Social Welfare

Gary and Susan Duck’s love for the University of Washington started with their love for each other. As UW graduate students, friends arranged a set-up; after a few dates to coffee shops and the cinema on The Ave, they became college sweethearts.

“We met each other in February and got married in November,” says Susan. “It wasn’t a long romance, but it was long enough because that was 41 years ago.”

At the time, Susan was working on her master’s degree in social work and Gary was earning his Ph.D. in political science. “I have very warm feelings about the University because it gave me a set of experiences, tools, training and perspective that really launched an engaging career for both of us,” says Gary.

Both Gary and Susan received grants and fellowships to complete their respective programs. To pay that generosity forward, they recently established the Duck Family Scholarship and contributed seed money for the new Center for Environmental Governance. They appreciate the value of higher education and the importance of financial aid, and are grateful to be in a position to give back to the University that sparked their ambitions, goals and enduring love.