What they’re saying: Notre Dame community remembers Paul Duncan after tragic death
Tragedy struck the family of a former Notre Dame football player last week. Former Irish offensive lineman Paul Duncan was pronounced dead at the age of 35 after going into cardiac arrest during a run in his neighborhood.
Duncan, a 6-6 tackle from Georgia, lettered at Notre Dame from 2005-08. He graduated from the Mendoza College of Business in 2009. He signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Denver Broncos. He leaves behind his wife, Ellen, and two daughters.
Friends, family and those he met through life experiences mourn his death. His obituary can be found here.
“Paul was a wonderful husband to my sister and father to my two nieces,” tweeted Robert Costa, Ellen’s brother and the Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent for CBS News. “Keep them + his parents and sisters in your prayers. A strong and joyful presence in our lives.
“While he was a leader on the field, it’s his integrity off the field that I will remember the most. RIP.”
“I knew Paul only in passing, as post-football he played in our local Catholic sports co-Ed basketball league, and he was always kind,” Lauren Fowler tweeted. “Truly an awful tragedy; may his memory be a blessing, especially to his wife and children.”
“A wonderful young man who will be missed by many,” former Notre Dame special teams coach Brian Polian tweeted. “Thinking of his loved ones at this difficult time.”
“Hard to even comprehend,” tweeted former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr., whose freshman season was Duncan’s senior year. “Absolutely devastating. That poor family. RIP.”
Former Notre Dame defensive lineman and recruiting editor for Blue & Gold Illustrated from 2005-2013 Jason Sapp replied to the official Notre Dame Twitter account’s announcement with a green heart emoji and the praying hands emoji. Former Notre Dame tight end Irv Smith tweeted the praying hands and a shamrock emoji.
Duncan is gone, but not forgotten.
Ellen shared an Instagram post of her husband dancing at a wedding late Tuesday night. In the caption, she wrote that when she told her daughters about their father’s passing one of them, Dillon, asked to listen to the song “Dad just added to the morning playlist.” That song was “I can only Imagine” by MercyMe. The lyrics speculate on what it will be like to ascend into Heaven.
“Paul definitely danced meeting Jesus,” Ellen wrote. “Thank you for the ongoing love and support.”
Duncan’s funeral will take place in Brookhaven, Ga., on Monday, July 25.
