Life Story: John K. Duffy, 79; Helped Create Colonial Park Dog Park

Mr. John K. Duffy passed away suddenly May 18 at the age of 79.

He was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he graduated from St. John’s University prior to serving in the United States Army.

Mr. Duffy resided in Somerset for many years before moving to Somerville and then New Brunswick in 2003.

He was employed by the Equitable, Johnson & Johnson, Beneficial and Life Skills, where he worked with adults with autism and other developmental challenges.

Mr. Duffy was a nature lover interested in environmental conservation issues. He enjoyed ocean and freshwater trout fishing and birdwatching. He loved his dogs and was instrumental in the development and construction of the dog park at Colonial Park. He and his former wife, the late Sharon Duffy, showed Portuguese Water Dogs.

He is pre-deceased by his siblings James, Daniel, and Thomas Duffy and Marianne McSharry.

Mr. Duffy is survived by his wife of 14 years, Barbara Hamilton Duffy; children from his first marriage to Mary, Laura Louise Duffy of Hillsborough, Joan Marie Duffy of Hillsborough, John Kevin Duffy of Maine, and Edward Barron Duffy of Raritan; stepchildren Bill Hamilton of North Brunswick and his partner Gigi, Brian Hamilton and his wife Kristen of Cranbury, Sheila Caballero and her husband Ed of Bethlehem, Pa. and Michael Hamilton and his partner Holly of Salisbury, Md. He is also survived by his brother Donald and his wife Joan of Brooklyn and grandchildren Tara, Ian, Bridget, Alecia, Gianna, Griffin, Bridget Reedy, Liam, Vaughn, Nyah, Lyric, and Syvelle.

Friends and family may visit 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. May 23 at the Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton St. A funeral mass will be held 9 a.m. May 24, 2017 at St. Matthias Church, Somerset.

Contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org.

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