Dr. Henry Michael “Mike” Duke, M.D., age 78, of Dayton, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, at Hospice of Dayton, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, February 10, 1948, the son of Henry and Essie Mae (Roberts) Duke

H. Michael Duke, M.D. (“Mike”) lived a life defined by uncommon devotion to his family, his patients, and the natural world he so deeply respected. He will be remembered not only for his extraordinary accomplishments in medicine, but for the quiet steadiness of his character: his gentleness, dry humor, warmth, and enduring kindness. Across decades as a husband, father, grandfather, physician, teacher, and friend, he leaves behind a legacy measured not in accolades alone, but in trust earned, lives healed, and care given.

Mike was instantly recognizable to those who knew him, often seen in his signature blue jeans, Birkenstocks. He had a Southern wit that could be both unvarnished and disarming, delivered with an ease that put people immediately at comfort. Beneath that down to earth exterior was an intelligent, quietly intense, and profoundly original mind.

As a family man, he was both teacher and steady guide. Despite the demands of a rigorous professional life, he made his presence a priority, finding ways, large and small, to remain meaningfully engaged in the lives of his wife, children, and grandchildren. He took genuine delight in their pursuits, offering encouragement that was unwavering and support that was unconditional.

Mike was also a gifted writer, poet, artist, and stone sculptor, with a lifelong appreciation for the arts that extended beyond personal expression into community investment and stewardship. Together with his wife, Beth, he contributed to shaping Dayton’s cultural and civic landscape through projects including the Cannery Loft Apartments, the Second Street Public Market, and the restoration of the historic Hook Estate on Philadelphia Drive. Their shared commitment to community extended to service on the board of the Friends of Aullwood, supporting its mission to inspire care for the natural world, as well as to Stivers School for the Arts, helping sustain rigorous artistic training for young creatives.

That reverence for creativity was inseparable from his deep love of nature and animals. He found quiet restoration in the outdoors in tending plants, caring for his beloved dogs, or simply observing the rhythms of the natural world. He approached all living things, even the smallest, with gratitude and respect that mirrored the compassion he brought to every other part of his life.

Mike completed his medical education and training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on June 9, 1974. He held board certifications from the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, and maintained licensure through both the Arkansas State Medical Board and the State Medical Board of Ohio, reflecting a lifelong commitment to the highest standards of medical practice. For more than three decades, he devoted himself to the practice of dermatologic medicine with rare dedication.

After completing his Mohs surgery training in 1984, he established his private practice, where he became widely respected for his expertise in skin cancer treatment, Mohs micrographic surgery, and general dermatology. His surgical precision and thoughtful approach influenced colleagues across Dayton and beyond, and his methods were studied and adopted by fellow surgeons.

Over the course of a 42 year career, he cared for tens of thousands of patients. He was known not only for clinical excellence, but for a level of attentiveness that was increasingly rare, often spending extended time with patients, ensuring they felt seen, heard, and cared for as individuals rather than cases. To many, he was both physician and problem solver of last resort, meeting difficult cases with calm confidence and deep knowledge.

In addition to his clinical practice, he was a committed educator and mentor, serving on the faculty at Wright State University, where he generously shared his knowledge.

In the final years of his life, Mike developed vascular dementia, which gradually made it difficult for him to write and speak, an especially profound loss for someone so eloquent, precise with language, and deeply attuned to its meaning.

Our family was honored to have the support and care of Carriage Inn of Dayton Rehabilitation Center and Hospice of Dayton. During his final 10 days at Hospice we witnessed a reflection of Mike himself in those who cared for him: steady compassion, dignity, patience, and an unwavering commitment to comfort. The same devotion he had shown to so many throughout his life was returned to him in his final days, offered with grace and respect.

He is deeply missed by his family, who take comfort in the life he lived and the love he gave so freely. His legacy endures in the countless patients he healed, the students he taught, the colleagues he inspired, and the family who will continue to carry his influence forward in quiet, lasting ways.

We encourage you to share your personal memories as a tribute to this wonderful man.

Mike is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Beth (Bergman) Duke; six children, Nicholas (Tonya) Wells, Jonathan (Samantha) Wells, Dietrich (Elizabeth) Duke, Seth (Nicole) Duke, Emily (Jeremie) Pianca and Annie (Marc Smith) Duke and Paul Muratov; grandchildren, Hunter, Chloe, Armand, Everett, Aurelien, Grady, Sullivan, Rooney, Connelly and Nadia; sister, Nancy Dolan; nephews, Andrew and Christopher Dolan; brothers and sisters-in-law, Steve Bergman, Mary Bergman, Kris Bergman, Mara Lance, Lisa Dineen, Tom Dineen, Brian and Laura Reif Bergman, along with his first wife, Helen Farrish-Hinkle.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Essie Mae Duke, as well as his mother and father-in-law, Louise and Everett Bergman; sister-in-law, Julie Bergman, and brother-in-law, Mike Dolan. Mike’s family would like to thank the staff at Hospice of Dayton for their compassionate care provided for him.

A private celebration of Mike’s life will be held at a later date at the Aullwood Audubon Center in Dayton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Mike’s name to Friends of Aullwood Audubon, 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton, OH 45415 or to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420.

The WESTBROCK FUNERAL HOME- DAYTON is serving his family.