James P. Duffy

James P. Duffy, age 86, of Villanova, PA, passed away on October 29, 2022.

He was the beloved husband of the late Jacqueline (née Griffin) Duffy; loving father of Colleen D. Price (Brian), Michael J. Duffy (John), Noreen A. Ford, Eileen A. Williams (Dave) and Christine Massimino (Andrew); proud grandfather of 15 grandchildren; dear brother of Thomas Duffy and the late Moira Whelan. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday, November 3, 2022 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA, 610-989-9600, and to his Funeral Mass 10:30 AM Friday, November 4, 2022 at St. Katharine of Siena Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave, Wayne, PA 19087. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Parkinson’s Foundation, https://www.parkinson.org/ or to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org/donate.

Thank you everyone for your warm friendship and love for Jim Duffy.

On March 8, 1936 a guy named James P. Duffy entered the world. Born to Annie May Mclaughlin and Thomas Duffy who met “On the boat” when emigrating from Ireland.  They started a family in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY.  The second of three siblings; Moira, James, and Thomas.  Better known as Jim or Jimmy, he attended Visitation BVM, that’s (Blessed Virgin Mary), then Bishop Laughlin High school, and, keeping with the Catholic education, he earned a degree in Economics from IONA College.  Being the hard-working man he was, he sold eggs and produce door to door to pay for college.  Then life got really good for him….Jacqueline Griffin, the love of his life, said I do on February 22, 1958 and they moved to Quantico, VA. as Jim was in the Marines and started their family immediately! 

Then, it was the decade of the sixties and along come Colleen, Michael, Noreen, Eileen, and Christine.  By 1961 Jim and Jackie were in their first home in Astoria, NY.   Jim worked for General Motors followed by Touche Ross, the financial consulting firm.  Jim specialized in banking and took the family to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1966 where Eileen was born.  Back from San Juan, the growing family moved to Flushing, NY. 

1972 found Jim in Villanova, PA where he became a partner in Touche Ross. The family built a summer home in Lake Luzerne, NY, where Jim’s sister, Moira, her husband Luke and their family,  the Whelan’s were just across the lake, his cousin Rita Zehnter’s family next door, and his best buddy Tom Whelan just up the road.  A summer never went by without soccer games played into the night and Jim was always ostentatiously waving his white handkerchief at the losing side. When his team was losing, however, he would happily announce that the next goal wins! Such a sportsman!  Summer holiday weekends included beach parties and games for everyone.  The greased log walk, power volleyball, and a Vaseline covered watermelon floating in the lake for all to compete for the honor of bringing the watermelon onto the beach and having their bodies covered in Vaseline….such fun!  The white handkerchief was always out when we played hockey at the Tristani’s, our cousins who on Jackie’s side probably thought we were going to move in since we were there so much at their home in Islip, NY! Throughout the fun and games and, indeed, across the whole of life – even to the end Jim was always a gentleman and a gentle man.  For example: When on a family road trip and the third tire blew out serially, Jim’s only response was “Sugar”.  What was said in the car by the rest of us cannot be published here.  Jim also got a kick out of off-color humor. He also, of course, loved jokes about the Irish.

Things were looking great until March 22, 1977 when his beloved Jacqueline died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage.  However, his Marine Corps training kicked in.  He immediately alphabetized the pantry, issued one towel per child, and put a white board on the refrigerator to list what was in there so we didn’t have to open the refrigerator and stare into it.  All of this lasted for the first day…..then he realized he was overruled by his children.

Jim had the good luck to work with the Philadelphia Eagles while with Touche Ross.  The good luck was really for his children as they enjoyed VIP parking, a private elevator, and sitting in the owner’s box for games.  Imagine the shock of his children, when, after his official time with the Eagles, he took the family to an Eagles game.  Now it was parking in general parking, walking up ramps to our seats, and sitting outside.  That was the last Eagles game for some of us!

Jim went on to be the President of Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia. He never understood why hospitals couldn’t be a little bit more like hotels with welcoming lobbies, quick check-ins, and good meals.  He loved Graduate and gained many friends whom he cherished.

Jim had “interesting” relationships on and off, with Cathy Ryan being the favorite among family until, years later he met Patricia Lindsey and they married in January 2001.  They spent winters in Stuart, Florida, near his wonderful cousin Patricia Nee McLaughlin and her husband Patrick Mahon, summers in Jenny Lake, NY, and in-between times in their West Chester home near their grandchildren. Their marriage ended July 2020 when Patricia passed away.

Over the many years, Jim spent time living with Colleen, Noreen, Eileen, and his son Michael.  From May 2020 to February 2022, Jim lived with Michael and John in West Virginia where Jim had an amazing array of daily caregivers.  The lead Caregiver, Annette Franke kept Jim involved and active.  She engaged Jim in his favorite activities, golf ranges, movies, walks in parks, picnic lunches, miniature golf, and of course, lunches at Annette’s friend’s homes.  A special shout-out, also, to BettyAnn Nichols, our other favorite caregiver.  His weekend ladies were known to give him manicures and pedicures as well as outings.  It’s a shame he wasn’t spoiled by so many beautiful women. Rarely did an evening go by when he didn’t have a ice cream and then scotch to end his day.

Parkinson’s and Dementia claimed Jim’s body, but he never lost his humor and quips.  As an example of his quips, during his last weeks at Arbor terrace, I brought him a DQ blizzard.  He was sitting with a woman who was asking him a question.  She repeated the question numerous times, getting louder each time.  He answered each time, but she could not hear him.  When she would say “I can’t hear you” he responded sarcastically “What”? 

Jim went to his reward last weekend and to reunite with Jacqueline. In his last days, he was surrounded with love from Colleen, Noreen, Eileen, Michael, and John.