Duke Ostendorf

With great sadness we announce Duke Ostendorf’s passing on September 14. He was 72.

Duke was born and raised in Toluca Lake and North Hollywood, California. He is the grandson of ubiquitous character actor, Henry O’Neill. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and attended Valley College and Cal State Northridge.

As a teenager, Duke worked to support his mother and brother, and in college found his way to the East Valley YMCA. He went on to become a program director at the Wilshire, Southwest LA and Palisades-Malibu YMCAs where he organized youth programming. He always found great joy in spending time with children and young adults.

It was at the Y where he met his future wife, Jan. They were married at the Ambassador Hotel in 1977 and built an incredible life together over the course of their 42-year marriage.

In the ’70s Duke went into the booming computer industry, working in executive search and also for a software startup. In the ’80s he co-founded Tri-West Marketing, where he spent 20 years before retiring. In retirement, he returned to the YMCA, serving on the Board of the Palisades-Malibu branch and spending many years as chairman.

Duke and Jan moved to Pacific Palisades in 1991 and lived in the same house on Maroney Lane for the rest of his life. His highest callings were family and community. In 1986, he became a father with the birth of his son, Hank. His daughter, Jennie, was born in 1991.

He coached countless sports teams for his children and attended all of their dance and theater performances. Backyard birthday parties and BBQs hosted by the Ostendorfs became the stuff of legend—Duke was always stationed at the grill.

Duke loved hiking and backpacking, and spent time each year with his oldest friends in the Eastern Sierras backcountry or the Grand Canyon. An eclectic character, he also loved old movies, cool cars, architecture, music, sports, American history and politics. Duke had an unforgettable personality and will be remembered especially for his often irreverent humor, warm smile and contagious laugh.

He is survived by his family and friends who are raising funds in his honor to help send underserved children to YMCA summer camps and enrichment programs. To contribute, please visit gofundme.com/f/duke-ostendorf-camper-fund.

For additional questions or to offer condolences, please contact OstendorfFamily1120@gmail.com.