Wilmington mourns loss of beloved businessman after e-bike accident
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Last week we told you about a Wilmington businessman who was riding an e-bike near Boone and died after colliding with a deer.
We met with some of his friends Tuesday who will never forget the impact he made on their lives.
“He was one of those guys that you should strive to be like, like everybody should try to be Mike Duncan,” Dillon said.
Mike Duncan a Wilmington native and businessman died when his e-bike collided with a deer in Boone.
He founded the digital marketing agency ‘Sage Island’ in 1997 and eventually sold it a few years ago.
Friend Kevin Keller says Duncan was involved with surfer’s expo, Warehouse Skateboards and the boating community. He was also part of the running club ‘Wilmington Road Runners’.
“Just interwoven into Wrightsville Beach and the Wilmington community, 100%,” Keller explained.
Duncan also stood by Keller as best man at his wedding.
“We spent the night reveling and partying and I’ll remember his big goofy smile,” Keller remembered.
Jason Adams, owner of Lighthouse Beer and Wine in Wrightsville Beach, knew Duncan for more than two decades.
“He’s a person I got to know early on, in my early days of Lighthouse Beer and Wine. He helped us with a lot of marketing things. He really took me under his wing in the business world and he kind of helped us along. So, I owe him a great bit of gratitude for that,” Adams explained.
Mark Dillon met Duncan when he returned to speak at UNCW’s Cameron School of Business.
“People talk about somebody after they pass, he was the best guy, he was the greatest guy but like it’s true. It’s very true. He was the greatest guy you’d ever meet. Always smiling, always happy. If you weren’t happy, he’d find a way to make you happy and he was smart,” Dillon shared.
Tom Clifford, owner of Without Limits, an endurance coaching and event production company, remembers Duncan as a constant source of support.
“He stepped in when people were under stress and the character of a person like that is just unforgettable. That lives on through us all and how we want to be carrying on that torch,” Clifford said.
The surfing community is planning a ‘paddle-out’ — which is a common memorial where everyone paddles out on some sort of flotation device — at 8 am on September 20th at access four or the L-shaped lot in Wrightsville Beach.
