There are only two kinds of problems in the world:
The ones you can solve, and the ones you can't.
There's no point in worrying about the ones you can solve...
And there's no point in worrying about the ones you can't!
“Sólo hay dos tipos de problemas en el mundo: los que se pueden resolver y los que no tienen solución.
No hace sentido preocuparte de los que puedes resolver …
Y no hace sentido preocuparte acerca de los que no puedes resolver!”
Obituary
Nicolas Benjamin Duarte lived fully, loved fiercely, and left an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone lucky enough to cross his path. Gone in the flesh but not in the spirit, he leaves behind a world made significantly brighter, warmer, and richer just by his generous heart. He was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother who treated life not as something to be passively observed, but as a grand, joyful space for connection, innovation, and authenticity.
Nik was a rare synthesis— a clever analytical mind that loved solving problems, an entrepreneurial bent that loved figuring out people's needs and the expressive soul of an artist. He looked at the universe with deep curiosity and captured its beauty with a vibrant, creative spirit.
He was the bravest person many of us will ever know. His optimism wasn't a passive hope; it was an active force. He was never shy about what he believed, yet he was also never hesitant to bridge the distance between human beings. Where others might hesitate, Nicolas reached out. He introduced himself, he offered help, he engaged deeply, and he pulled people into his orbit with an infectious, loving energy. To be met by Nicolas was to be truly seen, fearlessly and lovingly.
He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with Honors from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He was awarded over 15 patents across Aerospace, IoT, Sensors, Data Processing, Electrochromics and EMI applications.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 20 years, Jill Duarte; his three children Gab, Adrien and Christopher, his mother Marta Sunkel Duarte as well as his brother Matias Duarte, his sister-in-law Jenny Duarte, and their daughters Katie and Lucia. Preceded in death by his father Patricio Duarte.
He leaves behind a profound legacy in the family he adored, the friends he championed, and the countless lives he touched. He is deeply missed, but his untamed optimism and radiant spirit live on in all of us.
A celebration of life is planned for July 9th, 2026 from 3-7 pm at the Hampton Township Community Center, 3200 Lochner Wy, Allison Park, PA 15101.
Nicolas Benjamin Duarte Sunkel vivió plenamente, amó apasionadamente y dejó una marca indeleble en los corazones de los que tuvieron la suerte de cruzar su senda. Ido en su cuerpo pero no en su espíritu, deja tras sí un mundo significativamente más brillante, cálido y más rico sólo por su generoso corazón. Él fué un amado esposo, padre, hijo y hermano que trató su vida no como algo para ser observado pasivamente, sino como un feliz espacio para lograr conexión, innovación y autenticidad.
Nicolás era una rara síntesis- una mente analítica inteligente que adoraba resolver problemas, con una inclinación empresarial que deseaba encontrar soluciones a las necesidades de las personas, y con el alma expresiva de un artista. El miraba al universo con profunda curiosidad y capturaba su belleza con un vibrante y creativo espíritu.
El fué la persona más valiente que muchos de nosotros podremos conocer. Su optimismo no era una esperanza pasiva, era una fuerza activa. El nunca fué tímido para expresar en lo que él creía, sin embargo nunca dudó en establecer puentes para acercarse a todos los seres humanos. Dónde otros podrían haber titubeado, Nicolás trataba de alcanzar a otros. El se presentaba, ofrecía ayuda, se comprometía y acercaba con una cariñosa e infecciosa energía a las personas que se encontraban en su órbita.
Encontrarse con Nicolás significaba ser visto genuinamente con cariño y sin temores.
El obtuvo, con Honores un B.S. en Ingeniería Eléctrica de la Universidad de Maryland, College Park, y un Doctorado en Ingeniería Eléctrica de la Universidad Estatal de Pennsylvania en State College. El adquirió más de 15 patentes en temas aeroespaciales, loT, sensores, procesamiento de datos, electrocromismo y aplicaciones de EMI.
Le sobreviven su amada esposa de 20 años Jill Ricker Duarte, sus tres hijos Gab, Adrien y Christopher Duarte Ricker, su madre Marta Sunkel Duarte, su hermano Matias Duarte Sunkel, su cuñada Jenny Carter Duarte, y las hijas Katie y Lucia Duarte Carter. Su padre, Patricio Duarte Rojas falleció hace dos años.
Sus numerosos tíos y tías, primos y primas en Chile se unen a nuestros recuerdos.
Nicolás deja un profundo legado en la familia que adoraba, los amigos que apoyaba y respaldaba, y en las innumerables vidas que afectó. El es extrañado profundamente, pero su indómito optimismo y espíritu radiante sobrevive en todos nosotros.
Una celebración de vida se realizará el 9 de Julio de 2026, de 3 a 7pm en el Centro comunitario de Hampton Township, 3200 Lochner Wy, Allison Park, PA 15101.
Donations in memoriam
If you are moved to gift flowers (or anything else) to honor and memorialize Nik, we'd ask that you please instead contribute a donation to Gab, Adrien, and Christopher's college funds.
Donations can be made at www.ugift529.com using the code V6L-563
We are so grateful for the heartfelt desire to show love as we remember his legacy, and genuinely believe this the most meaningful way to contribute to his most cherished vocation as father in addition to husband, friend, artist and engineer.
Gallery
Speaking to Nik's Memory
Compartimos con todos aquellos y aquellas que te conocieron y estimaron esta canción que habla de gente como tu, de aquellos que pasan por la vida dejando huellas, de aquellos que mezclan con sabiduría las convicciones y un alma buena y noble, que avanzan comprometiéndose con los demás porque así ellos son Felices. La felicidad que siempre buscabas y demostrabas estará viva siempre en nuestros corazones.
Tus primos y primas Herbert, Billy, Chico, María Eliana, Heinrich, Lucia Angélica, Nanán y Solange.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3XK24DNBeQ72WO3nki1h0o?si=SLXm6V0LSVqkpBxj_T2j6A
The world is a better place for Nik having been in it.
Rest well, brother.
That memory is my experience of Nik in a nutshell. Creative, weird, warm, and funny. He will be missed.
I only knew Nik since April 2025. We were in treatment at the same time. We were “ walking EPOCH buddies “ his words - we would walk the halls of 6 Pavilion in the hospital pushing our IV poles talking about our families. He enjoyed make things that could help. He even made little trays on his 3D printer that attached to the IV poles to help the nurses.
I am so grateful that I got to know Nik even though it was such a short time. I will keep his spirit in my heart forever.
It always felt like if you just found the right combination of questions to ask him you could unlock some amazing idea or story.
More than once I had some 3d printing or knitting related idea and Nik was always there to brainstorm and improve. It never felt like he was trying to outdo your idea. It felt collaborative.
Ever time I got to visit I feel like Nik, Jill, and I (plus whoever we were with) would come up with something new and Nik would have made it real and give me a prototype to send us home with.
It was incredible. He was incredible.
Hours of laughter crammed into the frame of but a few moments.
Scours of pictures and candid moments of sharing in but a single selfie & smile.
Years of inside jokes in a chest splitting laugh.
He could do all this, and never break stride.
My fondest memory of Nik and myself is from a knitting retreat held in Nashville three years ago.
We had last seen each other in person in 2021, so this was a special day.
When I arrived, I waved excitedly at Jill and jumped for glee when Nik came running out for a bear hug.
Wearing heels in this moment, I was just a bit taller than he and was able to lift him off the ground.
Hearing his laughter go from joy to surprised is a sound I will replay in my mind every day.
We will miss you, to no end.
And we will love you just the same.
One of my favorite memories was a little mini-retreat we had after COVID. Nik and Jill opened their home to us for an evening of fun. Somehow the conversation turned to Star Wars, and Nik disappeared for a moment before returning with his lightsabers. The next thing I knew, we were in the backyard having an epic lightsaber battle. We had lots of laughter that evening.
It’s a memory that will always stay with me because it reminds me that sometimes it’s not the big moments that make the biggest impact. Sometimes it’s the unexpected, joyful moments that remind us life doesn’t always have to be so serious. Nik had a special knack for creating those moments.
I’ll always remember his kindness, his generosity, and the joy he brought to the people around him.
Service
We will have a small, non-denominational memorial ceremony and toast to Nik's life at 6 PM. Come when you can, leave when you must. Your presence will be cherished.
Nik's wish was to be memorialized by a Speaker for the Dead - a reference to the Orson Scott Card novel.
A Speaker for the Dead was one that spoke the unvarnished truth of someone's life when they died.
So our wish is that those who loved him will gather to share your stories of Nik, so that we all walk away with a fuller, richer understanding of his life and his legacy.
3200 Lochner Wy, Allison Park, PA 15101
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