Duane Flemming, of Arlington, Va., the only son of Charles and Doris Flemming, was born on October 5, 1960, in Bordeaux, France, and raised in Essex, Maryland. After a quiet, courageous fight, he passed away on June 7, 2026, at age 65, with his beloved husband by his side.
Duane graduated from Calvert Hall High School in 1978 and remained devoted to his alma mater throughout his life. He proudly supported tuition assistance for STEM students, DEI initiatives, and the Augustine “Auggie” F. Miceli, Sr. AFSC Scholarship. He later attended The Citadel, a choice he described as love at first sight—especially because of Charleston, South Carolina. As a member of the Regimental Band, he played tuba and treasured his four years in the barracks. The education, discipline, and friendships he found there helped shape the patriotic, compassionate, and respectful man so many admired. From 2016 to 2019, he served as president of the Citadel Club of Greater Washington and, in 2018, was named Club President of the Year by the Citadel Alumni Association. His love for his Citadel brothers was boundless, and he remained deeply committed to the DEI initiative (now Civility and Engagement) and the Class of 1982 scholarship.
After earning his degree in Business Administration, Duane was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. His first assignment took him to Nuremberg, Germany. After returning to the United States, his Army Medical Corps career included assignments at Fort Stewart, the Presidio, and the Office of the Army Surgeon General in Bailey’s Crossroads. He rose to the rank of major before accepting a downsizing buyout and transitioning to civilian life in 1992. Determined to continue serving his country, especially fellow veterans, he spent the next 24 years with the Veterans Health Administration, helping develop, implement, and advocate for strategic policies supporting VA medical care in the nation’s largest integrated health care system. He retired in 2016 as a member of the Senior Executive Service and Director for Policy Analysis and Forecasting at VHA. After 34 years of distinguished federal service, he continued his work as a Lead Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, providing subject-matter expertise in veterans’ health policy and health care utilization.
To his neighbors, Duane was friendly, witty, and kind. He enjoyed BYOB chats and Thirsty Thursdays and served on the condo board for three years, through this February, where he was known as a steady voice of reason. To his friends, he was inclusive, generous, and loving. He delighted in sharing his passion for cycling and freely admitted to the many hours he spent watching the Tour de France. To his beloved husband, he was a rock, a North Star, a light, and a source of unwavering support. Together, they shared 26 treasured years filled with books, music, opera, musicals, food, wine, and, above all, travel. To his parents, he was their pride and joy. To his uncle and aunt, he was truly like a son. He cared for all four of them without hesitation even as his own health declined. His love for them never wavered. Duane was one in a million—patient, quietly confident, and endlessly selfless. A devout Catholic, he never imposed his faith on others, including his husband; instead, he led by example. He valued diversity, believed deeply in inclusion, and understood that bringing people together makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. He would want us to live with the same generosity, humility, and love that guided his 65 years.
Duane was predeceased by his loving parents, Charles and Doris Flemming. He is survived by Ivan Cheung, his husband of 12 years and life partner of 26 years.
Visitation will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1–5 p.m. at Everly Funeral Home, 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044. A Celebration of Life will follow this fall, with a Military Honors Columbarium Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Duane requested donations to The Citadel’s Center for Civility and Engagement or to the Class of 1982 scholarship in his name. https://foundation.citadel.edu/duaneflemming
Donations may also be made to Calvert Hall by selecting “Other” as the designation and entering “in memory of Duane Flemming.”