Dr. Robert Duncanson, Chatham's Former Natural Resources Director, Dies Suddenly

 CHATHAM – Dr. Robert Duncanson, whose guidance on environmental issues helped make the town a leader among Cape towns in wastewater planning and coastal water management, passed away suddenly Monday, Dec. 15.

 Dr. Duncanson retired as Chatham’s director of natural resources in 2023 after more than 35 years of service to the town. A cause of death was not reported. He was 68 years old, according to an obituary published online Friday.

 Dr. Duncanson founded the town’s water quality lab in the late 1980s and was the architect of Chatham’s comprehensive wastewater management plan in reaction to nutrient loading in local coastal waterways. It was one of the first wastewater plans to win approval by the state and set the template for other Cape towns.

 “He was an extraordinary public servant,” said Select Board Chair Dean Nicastro. “He had an incredible diligence and encyclopedic mind, he had great institutional memory.”

 A celebration of Dr. Duncanson’s life will be held in the spring.