Patrick J Duffy

Sanskrit scholar, accomplished guitarist, and Latin professor, Patrick Joseph Duffy, died February 10, 2018 under the care of Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida. Patrick was married to Erin Walsh Duffy for 40 years. In addition to Erin, Patrick is survived by his daughters Winifred, Katie, and Peggy. Patrick joyfully loved his grandchildren Eleanor, Cecilia, and Joey.

Patrick was the founding Latin teacher at Seacrest County Day in Naples. Prior to teaching at Seacrest, Patrick was an Assistant Professor of Classics at Christendom College in Front Royal, VA. He also taught Latin at the Wakefield School, both in Huntly and The Plains, VA. Seacrest was proud to call Patrick the “Voice of the Stingrays”, as he announced games for both their basketball and baseball programs. Visiting teams and umpires looked forward to his exciting baseball trivia games, witty play-by-play, and outstanding music playlists that perfectly reflected the moment. In addition to his teaching, Patrick was the lead guitarist and vocalist for Seacrest’s questionable faculty band, The Relics.

Patrick’s degrees were awarded by Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. He was a respected and published scholar of Ind0-European linguistics and was always ready for a conversation about how the English language distorted the real meaning of words.

Patrick’s strong Catholic faith sustained him through a long battle with regulatory arthritis, emphysema, and chronic obstruction pulmonary disease. His attraction to the work and life of Thomas Merton marked the life path upon which he walked.

Patrick was predeceased by his father Rayburn Peter Duffy and is survived by his mother Phyllis Duffy and his sisters Laurene Duffy and Phyllis Brooks (Scott), his aunts Sandy Heinz and Marcia Matchett and nephews Justin, Christopher, and Colin Duffy and George and Timmy Walsh. Patrick is also survived by hundreds of students who found wisdom and humor in his classroom.

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 12th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fuller Funeral Home 4735 Tamiami Trail East. The funeral will take place Tuesday, February 13th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Church on Rattlesnake Hammock Road.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Patrick’s name to Seacrest Country Day School Naples, FL or to the Patrick Duffy Classics Scholarship at Christendom College, Front Royal, VA.

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