Thomas Joseph Duffy

Thomas Joseph Duffy, 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, January 19, 2024, in Darien, CT, with his loving wife of 40 years by his side.
Born on March 20, 1933, in New York City to Thomas and Sarah Duffy, Tom quickly developed an adventurous and vibrant spirit. At 18, he left high school and joined the United States Army, serving honorably in Korea. Afterward, with the support of the GI Bill, he completed his bachelor's degree at Pace University.
Tom's curiosity, humor, and talent for connecting with people led him to an extraordinary career. His work as an international banker took him around the globe, living in locales such as London, Paris, Brussels, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Cairo, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. In the fall of 1983, fate brought him to Greece, where he met the love of his life, Yakut Akman. They married the following spring in Istanbul and soon moved to New Jersey. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and cherished family memories while raising their two children, Tansu and Timur.
Tom brought the world to those he loved, often inviting his extended family to join him on his journeys. His infectious joy for life and passion for travel had a unique way of bringing people together. Whether he was recounting tales around a bustling dinner table, singing (slightly off-key) at lively gatherings, or inspiring others through his volunteer work with the local Democrats and Senior Men's Group, Tom's warmth, humor, and laughter filled every room he entered.
Above all, Tom's greatest joy came from being a father-a role he embraced fully when he retired when the family moved to London. He approached fatherhood with boundless enthusiasm, immersing himself in PTA meetings, Boy Scout camping trips, and high school musicals. His children treasure their countless memories of him picking them up from a late-night practice or rehearsal, always punctuating the air with his deep, unmistakable laugh. Even in his final days, his radiant smile and sparkling Irish eyes continued to brighten both the spaces he graced and the lives he touched.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Yakut; his children, Tansu and Timur; his brother, Charlie; his nieces and nephews, Caryn, Gayle, Sara, and Charlie (who fondly remember him as the "cool uncle"); and extended family members and friends across the world. He will be deeply missed by all who had the joy of knowing him, for to know Tom was to love him.
The Akman-Duffy family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Maplewood Senior Living as well as Visiting Nurse & Hospice for their compassionate care during the final chapter of Tom's life.
A memorial service to celebrate Tom will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at Gallagher Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT. Virtual services accessible via livestream through this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3416280182?omn=82913801032 Passcode: Duffy.
Interment with Military Honors will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien at 11:00 a.m., with a reception afterward at Tom and Yakut's home in Darien.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Tom's memory to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.