Those who knew Paul Duffy never heard him speak the words “giving back”. Yet after 76 years of serving his family, his country, his community, his school, his church and his friends that will be Paul Duffy’s legacy. A man who got involved and touched the lives of everyone he met.
Dr. Paul Duffy was born in Malden, Mass. to Felix and Ellie Duffy on August 22, 1929. While a child at the Immaculate Conception Grammar School, Paul decided he would be a dentist. He graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1947. In his yearbook he stated his ambition to take pre-medical courses at Boston College and then enter Tufts University School of Dental Medicine — which is exactly what he did. He graduated from Tufts in 1954 a member of the Robert R Andrews Honor Society and Grand Master of the Delta Sigma Delta Dental Fraternity.
In 1954 Paul enlisted in the Navy where he served for two years as Lieutenant. In 1956 he married Edna Mae Hall, also of Malden, and opened his dental practice in his hometown. By 1961, Paul and Edna had three boys and moved to Winchester. A baby girl and one more boy would follow. Paul was a dedicated father who taught his children mostly by his own example. Paul made it a point to mirror his vacation schedule around his children’s school holidays so the family could be together. Most of his family’s free time was spent at their summer home on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire.
Paul Duffy could not be associated with anything unless he was contributing. Despite the demands of career and family, he always found time to get involved. Whether volunteering to help run the bingo game at his local parish, serving as president of Kiwanis, braving subzero temperatures to coach his sons’ hockey teams or organizing a fund raiser or alumni event, Paul Duffy was always serving. Several plaques and awards hang in his study as testament of these contributions. The one he was most proud of was the Plus Ultra award that he received from Malden Catholic High School for 50 years of service to his alma mater. The inscription on the award reads” Presented to a man who truly signifies by the way he lives his life that there is indeed more beyond.” That, in a nutshell, was Paul Duffy.
For someone who dedicated his life to the health of others, Paul Duffy had no time for his own infirmity. He enjoyed good health for all but the last of his 76 years. In fact, after 42 years of caring for his patients, Dr. Duffy was reputed to never have missed a day of work. He retired in 2000. In December of 2005, Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer. He did not allow surgery, chemo or radiation treatment to interfere with his daily routines, family life or trips to New Hampshire. He used humor to help those around him accept and deal with his illness. Paul was told on January 29, 2007 that his condition had taken a turn for the worse. Recognizing how difficult it was for his doctor to deliver such news his first reaction was “That’s OK dear, I know how hard this must be for you.”
In addition to his loving wife of 50 years, Edna M. (Hall) he is survived by his children, Paul E. II and his wife Joanne of Dunbarton, NH, Brian H. and his wife Tricia of Wakefield, Sean P. and his fiancé Erika of Malmo, Sweden, Marybeth Goslin and her husband John of Hanover, MA and Kevin J. and his wife Nancy of Dover, NH. He was the brother of William F. and his wife Eleanor of Westfield , the late John F. Duffy and his wife Kathleen of Stoneham. He is also survived by his grandchildren Katie, Nate, Cindy, Vikki, Ben, Tyler, Devin, Noelle and Josh and his great grandson Noah. Funeral from the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Monday Feb. 26th at 9AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, Winchester at 10AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sun. from 2-6PM. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Malden Catholic High School, Development Fund. 99 Crystal St., Malden, MA 02148