A financial audit can be a stressful time for the chief executive of a company, but accountant Terry Duis tried to make the process as painless as possible, business associates said.
“He was like a friend who wanted to help you do better,” said Dr. James Tally, retired chief of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. “He never took the approach of trying to find things you were doing wrong, so that he could embarrass you.”
Mr. Duis was a go-to person in health care finance, said Mark Oshnock, president and chief executive of Visiting Nurse Health System.
“He was known in the industry as one of the best,” Mr. Oshnock said. “He was especially known around the southeast. His death is such a shock.”
Terry Edward Duis died Saturday at the Stone Mountain home he shared with Connie Duis, his wife of 49 years. Mrs. Duis said her husband awoke from his sleep in respiratory distress. Paramedics were called, but were unable to revive him, she said. He was 71. A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m., Friday at A. S. Turner and Sons, Decatur. Burial will follow at Eternal Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery, Snellville.
Mr. Duis was an accountant with Arthur Andersen for 33 years. Prior to getting into health care finance, he worked in the firm’s real estate division, friends and associates say. Mr. Duis’ accounts included then- Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center, where Dr. Talley was the chief.
“Terry became a friend who held our hands during a very challenging time,” Dr.Tally said. “I think by his wisdom and understanding of the health care business, he helped us get better.”
After he retired from Andersen in 1997, he didn’t slow down very much, his wife said.
“When he retired, he worked more than most employed men,” she said. “But when he worked, he was on the go almost 27/7, so I didn’t see him much over those 33 years. We did do a number of things together after he retired though.”
Mr. Duis devoted a good portion of his time to volunteer work with heath care organizations that could use his financial expertise. He served on boards with DeKalb Medical Center and Visiting Nurse, where he was recognized for his dedication. He was selected nationally as Volunteer of the Year by the Visiting Nurse Associations of America in 2002 and he received the same award in this year on the board member level. Mr. Duis has also been honored locally by Visiting Nurse for his leadership and service.
Mr. Duis was “born to be an accountant,” said his wife. The two knew each other growing up in Iowa and stated dating during her senior year in high school.
“The field suited him perfectly because he liked to research and get to the bottom of things,” she said.
As an accountant, Mr. Duis “didn’t do a lot of guessing,” Mr. Oshnock said.
“He was a level-headed guy who didn’t open his mouth until he was sure of the answer,” he said. “His opinions were highly valued and he made a real difference in the community.”
Mr. Duis is also survived by his son Mark Duis of Atlanta; one grandson and a sister.
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