A memorial to Mr. Denis Duffy
Delbarton teacher and assistant headmaster, 65 Denis Patrick Duffy of Bedminster died suddenly on Dec. 30, 2008, while vacationing in St. Croix. He was 65. The family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd., Mendham. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Abbey at Delbarton. Interment will be private. Born in Venezuela, Denis came to New Jersey in 1954 to study at St. Mary's Abbey. He lived at Delbarton from 1954 until 1987. In 1989, he married Helen Louise Christian and moved to Bedminster. Denis received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Benedictine College in 1965. He received his master's degree in theology in 1969 and his master's in counseling in 1983, both from Seton Hall University. Denis was a teacher at Delbarton from 1967 until 1987 and served as the assistant headmaster. Denis worked as a Spanish Teacher at Franklin High School and also taught at Raritan Valley Community College from 2003 until 2008. He was a member of the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club and the Bay Head Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Rockland Yacht Club and Rockport Boat Club, both in Owl's Head Maine. Survivors include his wife, Helen Louise Duffy of Bedminster, and her six children, John Christian (Mary) of Flanders, Meredith Whaley (Fred) of Bedminster, Paul Christian (Lora) of Richmond, Va., Maureen Sciortino (James) of Long Valley, Michael Christian (Jennifer) of San Francisco, Calif., and Bryan Christian (Allison) of Tewksbury Township; one sister, Maureen Akin, and her children, Meghan Wegleitner and Joseph Skalek. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and his golden retriever, Shea. For those desiring, donations to the Denis P. Duffy Scholarship Fund at Delbarton School, in his memory, would be appreciated.