In Loving Memory of Ned and Grace Duke

Ned Duke Sr.

Ned Jr is a first generation American his parents came over to this country from Guyana in 1963.

His father joined the Army and the police force. His mother successfully studied to become a nurse. They grew up in New Jersey.

His dad passed away in 1993 when he was deployed in the Desert Storm. Ned remembers talking to his father on the phone at night and they would make plans for when he came home and one of them was to go see the Statue of Liberty. He was ultimately diagnosed with cancer, while still overseas. He was then sent to Germany to receive treatment… A defining trait of Ned’s father was that he was stubborn and definitely did not want to be stuck in another country to have doctors he didn’t know operate on him. The decision was made that he would come back to the States and receive full treatment at the hospital that Ned’s mother worked for, which happened to be in the same city he had been a police officer for 23 years.  

Ned remembers the day he came home like it was yesterday. Ned was excited to show him his report card and talk about going to the Statue of Liberty and the other places they had planned. Ned had just started his first job and had limited time that day, they only got to speak roughly thirty minutes. But when Ned left the last thing his father said to him was how proud of him he was and that they would talk more later. When Ned left it felt like everything slowed down. He remembers being at work and his boss brought him into the office to tell him he had a phone call that his father was going back to the hospital. Ned’s perception of his father was that he was a hero and hero’s don’t die. When Ned was told that he had passed away Ned didn’t believe it. He kept thinking there had to be a mistake and he felt numb through the entire ordeal. It was not until much later when time had healed the surface wound that Ned was able to see how his dad may be gone physically but will never truly be gone, for the legend of a hero does not die.  

Years later, wishing to honor his memory Ned worked to open Liberty Barbell in memory of his father and drawing inspiration from the trip that they were never able to complete together…to see Lady Liberty and all that it means to earn freedom. To those of us at Liberty Barbell the sacrifice for freedom is personal.

One of the many lessons that this taught Ned and he hopes to instill in others is: Live your life to the fullest, be purposeful in everything that you do. We only have one life. How will your story be written?

Grace Duke

Neds mother is known as Grace Noelle Rosenbaum Duke, she migrated to this country from  Guyana, South America in 1963 with big aspirations and goals. She was married and soon became a Registered Nurse.

For years she sacrificed and worked hard to help others. When she retired from the hospital, she went back to work for a private agency as a Home Health aid. Her desire to help was with her until the very end. One thing she always wanted for her children was for them to work hard and succeed. Education was priority. She was a God-fearing woman and had an immense amount of faith. Her famous words to Ned were "Stop worrying” have faith and pray. 

Fun fact about Ned’s mom she was born on Christmas, Hence “Noelle” which was actually her first name but was switch from Noelle Grace to Grace Noelle later in life.  Being a Christmas baby she was sure to make it known that she should receive two gifts, one for her birthday and the other for Christmas and if you were extra smart you didn’t forget the stocking stuffer. 

In the late summer of 2010, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Pseudomyxoma Peritonea. Something Ned and his siblings had never heard of and didn't even know how to pronounce it. Still kind of don't. But they certainly know what it is capable of doing. It was aggressive and it progressed quickly. This cancer was dormant in her body for years and because of a minor surgery she needed after a car accident, this sleeping giant awoke and spread quickly throughout her body. They had no knowledge of this cancer, no resources and had to rush treatment without getting a chance to do much research. They were given a prognosis that no one wants to hear. In just about a year, Ned’s beautiful mother passed away in 2011. 

Email us if you would like to know about either of these cancers or how to donate to their research.