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4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 4, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com SALE $ NOW 99 Sweaters Reg: $249 to $449 D O W N TO W N O A K V I L L E 905-337-3155 Inventory Liquidation Black historian dies at 95 By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Alvin B. Aberdeen Duncan, a decorated Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) veteran of the Second World War and a man whose roots extended to the Underground Railroad in Oakville, died Thursday at age 95. He could not have timed his passing better. "It's so apropos that his service will take place in Black History Month. He couldn't have planned it better," admitted his only daughter, actress Arlene Duncan. Living to age 95 was fitting for an historian. The Black history expert also lived long enough to take in the historic inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama. "I kept him up to date on it and he watched the inauguration. He was so thrilled," said Arlene, noting it was poignant for her dad who had seen so many of the changes that have taken place in the world. Alvin had lived for several years at Oakville's Post Inn Village Nursing Home. "He was very independent," admitted Arlene, adding, "He Alvin Duncan was very jovial and fun loving. He liked music, he played a lot of instruments and he loved history." Alvin died just short of his 96th birthday. He was born on Feb. 27, 1913 in Oakville and attended Oakville Trafalgar High School before going to Ryerson. Arlene herself was born and raised in Oakville and now lives in Toronto as she currently plays Fatima on Little Mosque on the Prairie. Alvin is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew, 23, and Yuri Koller, 20. Alvin was a lifelong resident of Oakville, whose family history traced directly back to the Underground Railroad. "He used to give presentations at the schools," said Arlene. Alvin had been an active member of the Oakville Historical Society, Oakville Black History Society and Ontario Black History Society, said Arlene. He shared his extensive research with the Oakville Museum and assisted with the museum's Black History Exhibit. "Alvin Duncan's personal knowledge, enthusiasm and generosity were all integral in the collection of Oakville's Black Heritage. He eagerly shared his information through narratives, personal accounts and photographs, all of which help us tell Oakville's Black history," said Carolyn Cross, collections curator at Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate. The museum has an RCAF document acknowledging the radar station service of Alvin during the Second World War. Alvin was a radar operator in the Royal Air Force, "on loan" from the RCAF. Originally, a member of the Lorne Scots Rifle Regiment, Alvin trained as a radar operator following Winston Churchill's call to Ottawa to See Duncan page 8