Michael W. Duskas, 84, Canton
CANTON — Michael W. Duskas, a resident of Saratoga Springs, and formerly of Ocala, FL and Canton, passed away on Oct. 31, under the care of his family and Hospice. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at O’Leary Funeral Service, Canton.
Mike was born in Canton, on Nov. 8, 1937 to William J. Duskas and Katherine (Zaharis) Duskas as the youngest of seven children.
He attended Canton Central School graduating in 1955 and went on to St. Lawrence University where he graduated with the class of 1958. He then left his North Country roots to attend the University of Virginia School of Law receiving his LLB in 1961.
Upon graduation from UVA, he sat for the New York State Bar Exam and was admitted to the New York Bar in November of 1961, after which he entered into private practice with Everett Howard, as a partner in the law firm of Howard & Duskas located on Main Street in the village of Canton.
In 1973, he was appointed St. Lawrence County Court Judge by Governor Nelson Rockefeller to fill the seat vacated by Judge Edmund Shea. He was subsequently elected to the first of his two terms as County Court Judge later that year, serving as the County Court Judge until 1985, when he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court.
He served as a Justice of the Supreme Court for the 4th Judicial District, with his chambers in Canton, NY, until his retirement at the age of 55.
After his retirement from the bench, he served as a Judicial Hearing Officer and arbitrator/mediator for several years. During his retirement, he and his wife Pat moved to Ocala, Florida where he easily settled into the retirement lifestyle while they continued to spend their summers on the St. Lawrence River at their camp in Morristown, NY.
Throughout his life, he never lost his ability to relate to and connect with his community, joke among friends or strike up a conversation with a stranger whom he made feel like a close friend.
Mike is survived by his son, William (Victoria) of Canton, NY and his daughter Kimberly (Ronald Daly) of Gansevoort, NY as well as two sisters, Stamatoula “Toula” Assimon of Fayetteville, NY and Urania “Reggie” Mahoney of Whitefish, MT and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is pre-deceased by his wife of 52 years, Patricia (Norton), his parents, William J. Duskas and Katherine (Zaharis) Duskas, two brothers, John Duskas and James Duskas and two sisters, Angeline “Angie” Svolos and Artemis “Artie” Cook.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mike’s name to Canton Pee Wee Baseball/Ike Noble Fields (Canton Pee Wee Association, PO Box 523, Canton, NY 13617, write “Baseball” in the memo line), Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley (PO Box 510, Potsdam, NY 13676) or The Community Hospice of Saratoga County (179 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866).