NANCY DUFFY

Nancy Duffy was born in Washington, D.C. on November 24, 1939 to William and Gertrude Duffy. With her sister Barbara and brother George they moved to Cortland, New York, where she attended St. Mary’s School. She graduated, with honors, from Marywood College in Scranton, Pa., Class of ’61. Nancy started her career as a journalist for “ The Cortland Standard”, then at “The Syracuse Herald Journal”, where she was the city’s first police reporter. She joined WHEN-TV in 1967, and became the first woman broadcaster in Central New York. In 1977, after serving as press secretary for the City of Syracuse, she began a twenty-nine year career with WIXT-TV, Channel 9 News, She was a reporter, a news anchor for ten years, talk show host, MDA Telethon host, producer of “Duffy’s People”, “Community Connections”. ?In 1983 she founded and was President of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Nancy won dozens of awards and honors from professional and community organizations to which she contributed her time, talents, and abilities. However, she was most proud of her two sons: Peter, an author and reporter for the New York Times; and Matthew, a lawyer living in Cleveland, Ohio; and, of course, her three grandchildren.

Nancy, the news reporter, poet, artist, Mom, and Mary Poppins protégé was all about: good news, positive people and thinking of all the possibilities. So when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, after a lumpectomy eight years ago, she took it as a sign. She began to pay closer attention to diet, exercise, forgiveness and prayer. She was accepting of non-traditional healing methods, too: Kale-protein shakes were her mainstay. And she surrounded herself with people involved with holistic healing. Except for her sister, Nancy kept her illness a secret. Once acknowledging the cancer it empowered her. Nancy took up tap dancing, singing at the Symphony, chanting, healing others with her Padre Pio glove, and laughing whenever possible.

Nancy made an appointment with an oncologist, only after learning the cancer had spread to her colon and lymphatic system. Throughout her chemotherapy and radiation treatments she kept her secret. With her wig in place, she continued to report for Channel 9 News, hoping that no one would notice her ever-increasing fatigue.

Nancy remained optimistic, refusing to accept the dire possibilities. When the possibilities became a reality she agreed to go to Francis House, a home for the terminally ill, in Syracuse, but she considered it “retreat center”.

On the day she died, December 22, 2006, she asked her son Peter, with disbelief? “Am I really going to die?” When Peter concurred, she said, smiling, “If that is true, I welcome it as a great adventure!”