Vanessa

I was introduced to Duane by my wife many years ago and ever since the first moment have found this man fascinating in his approach to life, business, and generous support of young people. On my first trip to the West Coast, I spent a short night in Duane’s house in Galt, CA before departing … Read moreJan “Honza” Havel

Several years ago Duane made the following comment to me “If I was a young man, I would go to the Czech Republic and teach English.”  That stuck with me because my family history is connected to the Czech Republic. I attempted to make the arraignments through my University (UOP) to get a grant in … Read moreOtto Kafka

Duane was friends with my parents before they were married, so I have known him my whole life. It is only in the last 6 years that I began to cultivate a close friendship with him. He was instrumental in guiding me into my first contract job, an area that both my family and I … Read moreZak Vetter

Changed my life?  Naw! I am too much like him, secure in my own certainty and belief that the rest of the world is out of line with reality and wandering blindly down the rose-colored glasses path to self-delusion and perdition. We have always gotten along because we each mine the world for ideas and … Read moreAndrew “Andy” Allan

I first met Duane over 4 years ago at a friend’s barbecue in Clayton, CA, where I was spending my summer. Despite him pulling magic tricks on me and trying me with sharp jokes and comments, I quickly began to like him. Right then, he struck me as a very unusual person, but I had … Read moreGabriela “Gaby” Stepinska

Duane Ausherman has been my godfather since birth. He was my parents’ true and trusted friend before I was born. My family lived in a very rural area, so I was not exposed to much. When I was 13, I went on the first of many summer trips with Duane between school years. I got … Read moreDan Gordon