Obituary of A. Carleton Dukess

DUKESS - A. Carleton, 85, died at home in Larchmont, New York, on July 20, 2015 with his adored wife of 60 years, Mona Dukess, and his beloved daughters, Linda, Laura and Karen Dukess, at his side. The most loveable of men, he was treasured by his six grandchildren: Joanna and Sam Bernstein, Ben and Stephen Schwed, and Joseph and Johnny Liesman, and was a cherished father-in-law to Jody DiPerna, Roger Schwed and Steve Liesman. He loved his nieces and nephews, rejoiced in his friendships with people young and old, and was known as a great raconteur and a wise listener. Carleton was pre-deceased by his older brother, Joseph Dukess. A graduate of Syracuse University and Columbia University School of Law, Carleton had a distinguished career as a real estate attorney and developer. He drafted the documentation for the nation's first condominium development and lectured extensively on the then-novel form of ownership. His interest in the restoration of urban buildings for low and moderate income housing led to his co-founding of Continental Wingate Company, Inc., a housing and rehabilitation company. He was a president of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association and served on the Citizens Housing & Planning Council of New York. He later was a partner in Castle Properties Co. and a director of Apple Bank for Savings in New York. Appreciative of his good fortune, Carleton devoted significant time and attention to charitable endeavors. He was a trustee of Barnard College, and a member of the boards of the New York Foundation, Community Resource Exchange, Castle Hill Center for the Arts and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Carleton loved Italian opera, the music of Benny Goodman, fishing, boating, single-malt Scotch and reading, but loved nothing more than spending time with his friends and family, especially in his favorite place, his home in Truro, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 24 at Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cancer Support Team of Purchase, New York, or the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.