Robert H. Duffee ’46 died on July 31, 2004, in Chicago, Illinois.

(The following was provided by The Ellsworth American on February 17, 2005)

Robert H. Duffee, 83, who died in Chicago on July 31, 2004, had not lived in Maine for many years. He was born in Ellsworth, March 1921.

Those of us whose lives he touched then remember a very personable and good-looking young man with a bubbling sense of humor and an incredible music talent. He was graduated from the Ellsworth school system in 1938 and was president of his Ellsworth High School Class for four years. He participated in WWII as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Following that conflict, he settled in Chicago where he met his wife, Beverly, with whom he had five children and who predeceased him by a few years. Bob kept his musical talent honed with study at the Chicago Conservatory. He had a remarkable tenor voice, played trumpet, piano and organ. He earned his living as an entertainer, balancing that side of his life by serving as music director for his church. He enjoyed travel and made many trips to Maine for the pleasure of windjammer cruises. His last was on Father’s Day weekend before his death in July. His last foreign trip was to view Mexico’s Mayan ruins in April 2004, when he also went snorkeling for the first time!

All of his children survive him as do his eight grandchildren.