With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the unexpected passing of beloved husband, father, son, and brother Duncan William Shalda, aged 28, of Warner, New Hampshire. Duncan was surrounded by his family when he peacefully passed away at Portsmouth-Boston Regional Hospital on June 8, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife Anna V. (Philbrick) Shalda, son Simon Shalda, a second child due to be born on January 1, 2027, parents Ron and Leslie Shalda of Toledo, Ohio, and sisters Meredith (Andy) Errington of Maumee, Ohio and Natalie Shalda of Toledo, Ohio.

Above all, Duncan was devoted to the love of his life, Anna. Duncan and Anna met at Houghton College in Houghton, New York, and were married on May 23, 2020 in Candia, New Hampshire. Their marriage was exemplary, a complementary and affectionate bond that clearly evidenced their deep love for, and devotion to, each other. Together, Duncan and Anna enjoyed both the significant milestones of life and the little things—visiting family, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, following their favorite local songwriters to various New England venues, being involved in their local church, sitting around a campfire, watching The Office, exploring new breweries and coffee shops, and watching their young son explore and learn about the world.

Duncan found his truest calling and deepest fulfillment in his role as a father. His son Simon was the pride and joy of his life and the center of his world. With Anna, Duncan's days were spent bringing Simon along on whatever adventure happened to appear. Many peaceful hours were spent playing on the shores of Lake Kearsarge, hitting golf balls in the back yard, walking down the street to the local bakery, or visiting cousins on the other side of town. Duncan's fatherhood exhibited the same love, humor, gentleness, and strength that characterized all the other areas of his life.

Professionally, Duncan dedicated his career to the transformative power of education. He spent nearly five years in higher education, serving as an Admissions Counselor at Southern New Hampshire University, then as Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at New England College, and most recently as Assistant Director of Individual and Class Giving at Dartmouth College, where he had worked for the past two years. In this role, Duncan helped connect students and alumni to the institutions that had shaped them, cultivating a spirit of generosity and fostering a sense of community between students past and present. His warm personality and generous spirit endeared him to all those he met.

Duncan approached life with curiosity and a willingness to learn something new. When something sparked his interest, he immersed himself in it wholeheartedly. Whether teaching himself a new skill, tackling a home project, or perfecting a recipe, Duncan liked to learn and create. Duncan also possessed a deep love of music and enjoyed learning and playing a variety of instruments, including the cello, drums, and guitar. There seemed to be no variety of golf that Duncan would not play, from traditional golf to disc golf and even bucket golf. In the kitchen, Duncan was equally adventurous; trying new recipes, baking bread, experimenting with sous vide cooking, and even learning how to roast his own coffee beans. Whatever the hobby, Duncan brought enthusiasm, determination, and an infectious curiosity.

Duncan had a deep love for his savior Jesus Christ. He grew up attending Whiteford Wesleyan Church in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, where he served as a worship leader. Duncan attended (and later volunteered at) Wesleyan Woods Bible Camp during the summers and also participated in the youth group. It was through the youth group that Duncan was introduced to cycling through Spoke Folk, an annual twelve-day bicycling and music ministry tour, through which he participated in multiple tours and formed many lasting friendships. Most recently, Duncan and several family members participated in the Ride to End Alzheimer's, raising money to support research and treatment for Alzheimer's and other related conditions.

In a final act of generosity, Duncan served as an organ donor after his passing. His donation saved the lives of five people, including a thirteen-year-old girl who otherwise would have died. Duncan's absence leaves a hole that cannot be filled, and his memory will be carried forward with deep love and gratitude by all who were fortunate enough to call him husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend.

A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, June 20 at Raymond Baptist Church in Raymond, NH, followed by a luncheon reception at Abbot Falls, 189 Depot Road, Candia, New Hampshire, 03034.