John Patrick Duffy

J. Patrick Duffy was born on January 19, 1933 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Cecilia and Paul Duffy,
and passed away on March 10, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas at 90 years of age.
Growing up in Iowa, Pat was a prankster, an athlete, an altar boy, and an older brother. He
graduated from Iowa State University while serving as a midshipman with the ROTC. He earned
his way through college with his Navy scholarship, playing drums in a popular band, and serving
as the entertainment booking agent for all acts that played at Iowa State student functions.
Naturally his band got lots of bookings.
Pat served four years as an officer in the US Navy. He then worked in aluminum sales before
embarking on a series of entrepreneurial ventures. Pat bought, developed and sold land as the
Dallas metro area grew northward. He formed CDP Corporation which imported millions of clay
pots from Italy and Korea and employed many people. In addition to starting a hydroponic
tomato farm, Pat acquired two companies: a ribbon-manufacturing factory in Mexico and a real
estate management company in Arizona. For his contributions to the Texas economy, he was
named an Honorary Admiral of the Texas Navy by Governor Dolph Briscoe in 1974. During his
Navy and business careers he traveled the world and visited over 40 countries.
Pat married Joan Morrow Duffy from the big city of Chicago in 1955, and together they had four
children - Anne, Susie, Katy and Mike. They settled in Richardson, Texas and raised their
children to be hard-working, self-reliant people of faith. He created a wonderful vacation home in
Perdido Key, Florida that the family enjoyed for over 35 years. After Richardson, Pat and Joan
moved often, building homes in New Mexico and Arizona before returning to Texas and settling
in Kerrville. There, Pat served 15 years as a volunteer at the Veterans Administration Medical
Center, assisting the chaplains, visiting with the residents, and taking the wheelchair-bound to
worship services.
One of Pat's most beloved characteristics was as a great storyteller. He entertained his family
and friends with countless stories they will remember for years: how he lost his fingerprints
falling down a mountain, the time he and his childhood friends watched a flustered neighbor
receive day-long deliveries of farm equipment (and a cow) that she hadn't ordered (but they
had), the pet bear he and his veterinarian friend used to take into the local bar, and the time he
and Joan helped then-Miss America escape her chaperones to drink beer in an Iowa cornfield.
Pat is predeceased by his parents and his sister Diane Garth Ham. He is survived by his wife of
67 years, Joan of Fort Worth, TX, their four children Anne Duffy VanBeber (husband Hance) of
Arlington, TX, Susie Duffy Buehler of Austin, TX, Katy Duffy Schardt (husband Bob) of Granite
Bay, CA, and Mike Duffy (wife Courtney) of Southlake, TX, and his sister Kay Denkhoff of
Coppell, TX. He is also survived by nine grandchildren - Claire and John VanBeber, Lizzie and
Joe Buehler, Jack (wife Katie) and Michael Schardt, and Candace (fiance Nainoa), Christopher,
and Connor Duffy. A memorial service will be held on June 23, 2023 at the Dallas-Fort Worth
National Cemetery. Donations in Pat's honor may be made to the Raphael Community Free
Clinic at 1807 Water Street, Kerrville, Texas 78028, www.raphaelclinic.org. If you mention that
your gift is in memory of Pat Duffy, the family will be informed.