James Joseph Duffy, of Noank, Connecticut, passed away peacefully, at his home on February 6, 2008.
He was the husband of Edythe Venezia Duffy, who passed on April 30, 1997. James and Edythe were high school sweethearts and attended Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, where they were raised. James was Captain of the Staples football and baseball teams, and had a scholarship at Columbia University, in New York.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, James enlisted in the U.S. army, and served as Corporal of the 33rd Coast Artillery Battalion, Battery B, in Saipan and the Western Pacific region. He was awarded a Victory Medal and several ribbons for his service in Saipan. He was an expert rifleman and first class gunner.
After the war, James and Edythe began their family and James established a plumbing and heating business in Westport. He also was a real estate entrepreneur. James and Edythe moved to Mumford Cove in 1977 to be close to the water where James kept his boat. He enjoyed sport fishing and cruising on Long Island Sound.
James is survived by two daughters, Mary Ellen Duffy Lench of Bluemont, Virginia, and Sandra Lea Duffy of Ludlow, Vermont, five grandchildren (who are the children of Sandra), Amie DeMontbel of Milford, Christine DiGuiseppi of Ridgefield, Stanley DiGuiseppi, Jr. of Seymour, Jonathan DiGuiseppi of Wilton, Kelley Richardson of Ludlow, Vermont, and three great grandchildren, Alexandre and Marcello, who are the sons of Amie and her husband, Antoine, and Auden, who is the daughter of Christine and her husband, Vincent.
His family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Monday from 12:30 to 1:30pm, followed by a Funeral Mass at 2pm at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton. Fr. Grezgorz P. Brozonowicz, Pastor will celebrate the Mass. Burial with full military honors will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, Inc., 12 Roosevelt Avenue, 2nd Floor, Mystic, Connecticut 06335.
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