William Duffy

It's sort of like a story that was scripted but it wasn't." - Lt. Bill Duffy, Ladder 40 ret.

With 50 consecutive marches down NYC's 5th Avenue playing in the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums on St. Patrick's Day, Bill "Titanium Fireman" Duffy 87, husband to Brigitte, and father to Bill, Kim, and Keith passed away peacefully on May 11, 2023. He was surrounded by his loving family, listening to bagpipe music, and enjoying just a taste of Guinness. Below is a snapshot of a life lived to the fullest.

William Denis Duffy was born in New York City on November 20, 1935 to Matilda and William Duffy. One of three boys including Peter and Frank (Rusty), Bill was an alum of Parkchester, Cardinal Hayes, Liquor Pickers and the Navy (1955-58) before finding his calling on the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) in 1960.

The story really begins on March 17,1961 when he met and fell in love with Brigitte Bourke from Kilkenny, Ireland. Brigitte was a Kilkenny "Cat" from across the pond who recently took up residence in the Greatest City in the World, leaving her small Irish hometown in search of her American dream. The wild unscripted adventure would begin.

In short succession William Jr. (1964) and Kim (1966) were born. They made their home on Leland Ave. in the Bronx and Bill made the short commute to Ladder 17 in the South Bronx. FF Duffy worked innumerable 10-75s and multiple alarms in one of the busiest firehouses in the world during FDNY's 'War Years.' When he returned home, his clothes always reeked of tenement smoke. The smell and deeds of the turnout coat in the car trunk were unmistakable.

He was a proud charter member of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the first fire department bagpipe band in the United States, which is now a world-renowned group with over one hundred members. Bill served as its pipe major for 25 years. Leading from the front, he set the standard for service to the members of the FDNY.

Twenty-five years of band practice, choosing tunes, tuning chanters, and traveling to play in many St. Patrick's Day parades, the Ed Sullivan Show, the Jay Leno show, gigs in Ireland, Italy, New Orleans, California, and much more, the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums have been around now for 61 years. This was his life's work and arguably his most significant contribution to the FDNY and the City of New York.

Bill went on reluctantly, by the goading of his peers, to become a Lieutenant on the FDNY. After touring Manhattan, he ended up in Harlem at Ladder 40, where he spent the rest of his career. He became patriarch to this Harlem firefighting family, leading his men with pride and humility.

Bill and Brigitte welcomed their son Keith (1975) shortly after leaving the Bronx to settle in the bucolic suburb of Sloatsburg, NY. This became their home for 50 years and Bill became a fabric of the community as HOA president, planning board chair, town trustee, and fire commissioner.

Bill and Brigitte always reinforced education as a top priority and the children of those who only possessed a GED and an 8th education respectively went on to attain masters and doctoral degrees. The kids from the streets of the Bronx and the green fields of a downtrodden Ireland delivered the American dream to their children and grandchildren.

Years of working in FDNYs busiest areas came at a physical price; Bill suffered a heart attack "on the job" in the prime of his career and retired in 1988. His firefighting heart was broken, but his time commitments to family, the band, and community increased. Bill went back to college at age 50 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ. Bill was always reading a book, a newspaper, or the local town meeting minutes in his downtime.

Magnanimous and charismatic are not really big enough words to describe the quiet and sometimes not so quiet character that was Bill Duffy. When he was in the room you didn't so much see him but you could feel his presence. His actions and gestures were more telling than his words.

Bill and Brigitte traveled the country and the world with their kids and grandkids spending significant amounts of time in not only New York but also Ireland, Boston, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, London, Paris, and Geneva. And let's not forget Atlantic City, NJ. In retirement, they had many good times and friends on the Jersey Shore.

Bill is survived by his soulmate Brigitte, Bill and Jeanne Duffy, Kim Lawlor, and Keith and Stephanie Duffy as well as their adoring grandkids Kian, Declan, Burke, William, Luke, Anna B., and Claire.

Bill left this world with his immediate family gathered around and knowing his firefighting and band families were with him. He was played out by the members of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. We wish all of you were there for that last, "By the right, quick, March