Community Corner

Rockland Tourism Director Heather Duke Dies at Age 67

Led efforts to bring visitors to local communities, events.

Heather Duke, who spearheaded Rockland County's efforts to boost local toursim since 1994, has died. She was 67.

The Haverstraw resident, who lived many years in Nyack, was director of Rockland County's Tourism Department. The department's web site promoted activities throughout Rockland and most recently had launched a campaign to attract people from the metropolitan area to visit Rockland's Hudson River villages.

Duke also for many years ran a public relations and marketing business in Rockland.

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Al Samuels, president of the Rockland Business Association, said Duke was very proactive in efforts to boost the local business community in Rockland by trying to attract visitors from outside the county. Samuels said the RBA formed its Hospitality and Tourism Alliance to work in conjunction with Duke's efforts for Rockland County.

"She really loved the riverfront communities, and she really loved the arts," said Samuels, who noted that Duke was also helpful to many of the county's local non-profit organizations.

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Rockland County Legislator Ed Day, R-New City, who is the Legislature's deputy minority leader, said Duke had a rare combination of being both most pleasant and highly passionate.

"She cared deeply about her work, and was relentless in bringing the uniqueness of this special place we call Rockland to as many potential visitors as possible," Day said.


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