Obituary of Gerald S Duffy

Gerald S. Duffy (Gerry) passed away on January 29, 2022. Gerry, born July 27, 1944 in St. Paul, MN, was a devoted husband, father, and grandpa. Anyone who knew Gerry, knew that he was fearless, loyal, and a determined advocate. Most of all he was proud of his family.  

Gerry obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota and that is where he met his wife, Judy. He was a passionate supporter of the University of Minnesota, including its academic programs and athletic teams. He had a long and distinguished career as an attorney. After graduating law school, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army as an Officer in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps at Fort Riley, KS. Following active duty, Gerry returned to Minnesota, transitioning to private practice while continuing to serve in the JAG Corps as a Reservist. He retired in 2004 as a Lt. Colonel.  

Gerry’s proudest career accomplishments were not individual honors but the numerous client relationships he developed over the years. Many of his clients became friends and that was one of the most gratifying parts of Gerry’s career. His keen problem-solving skills and client-focused solutions ingratiated him to his clients and colleagues alike. For the last eleven years, Gerry was a shareholder and, more recently, of counsel at Monroe Moxness Berg PA in Bloomington, MN.  

Gerry was generous with his time and talents, developing friendships through passion projects, singing groups, golf trips, and traveling. He loved cooking and did so often for family and friends. Gerry enjoyed sharing food and wine while creating memories and friendships.   

While he loved living on White Bear Lake, Gerry also enjoyed traveling with Judy to many places, Hawaii, Europe, and the Caribbean among others. His favorite trips were the annual family ski trips. Eventually, Gerry and Judy purchased a condo in Colorado, enjoying ski trips with their sons, daughters-in-law, family and friends, and, more recently, his granddaughters.  

Gerry is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Judy; his sons, Matthew (Elizabeth), of Eagan, MN, and Mark (Jessica) of Champlin, MN; granddaughters, Megan, Lauren, and Paige; brothers and a sister: John Michael (Mick) Duffy (Patricia), Eden Prairie, MN, Laurence (Larry) Duffy (Shari – passed away on February 16, 2022), Morgan, MN, Mary Pat Ruzicka (Roger), Hutchinson, MN, and Dennis Duffy (Debra), North Oaks, MN; sisters-in-law, Delores Duffy (Thomas), St. Louis Park, MN, Marianne Zurn (Daniel), Westhampton, MA; brothers-and-sisters-in-law by marriage: Leonard and Joan Wray, Batavia, Ill, John Clifton (Cliff) Wray and Lynne Hamilton, Chicago, Ill., Eugene (Gene) (Mona) Wray, Apple Valley, MN, and MaryAnn Wray, Minneapolis, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John (Jack) and Adelaide Duffy, and brothers Thomas (Tom) Duffy, Daniel (Dan) Duffy, and Robert (Bob) Duffy.   

A celebration of Gerry’s life will be on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2499 Helen Street, No. St. Paul, MN, at 11 a.m. A visitation will be on Friday, March 4, at Sandberg Mortuary, No. St. Paul, MN, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on March 5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The family requests that memorials be sent to the University of Minnesota Foundation – Scholarships or the St. Mark’s Foundation c/o St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2499 Helen Street, North St. Paul, MN. He will be missed beyond words, but his indelible lessons, loyalty and devotion will never be forgotten.      

The service will be livestreamed and can be watched at: https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/369221