Gerald J Duffner

Gerald J. Duffner, MD

Newark---Captain Gerald J. Duffner, USN (Ret), at age 91, died Tuesday (August 9, 2005) at the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

Friends may call on Friday (Aug 12th) from 4-7 PM at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark. Funeral services will be a 11 AM on Saturday (Aug13th) at the Park Presbyterian Church, Maple Court, Newark. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Park Presbyterian Church, Maple Court Newark or Via Health of Wayne Foundation, PO Box 571, Newark, New York 14513.

Dr. Duffner was born on July 31, 1914, in New Baden, Illinois the son of Cecil and Ella Mank Duffner. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1941. In 1943, Dr. Duffner was commissioned a Lieutenant, junior grade in the medical corps of the U.S. Navy; he served 26 years in the Navy, retiring in the grade of Captain in May 1969. His last three assignments were Surgeon, Atlantic Command and US Atlantic Fleet, Commanding officer, naval hospital embarked in USS Sanctuary and the Commanding Officer US Naval Submarine Medical Center, Groton, Ct.. While serving in the Navy Captain Duffner was awarded The Legion of Merit, with gold star in lieu of second award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Navy Distinguished Service Order, Navy Unit Citation and eight campaign medals.

Following Dr. Duffner's release from active duty, he was employed for three years as CEO of Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic. He next engaged in the private practice of Family Medicine as a partner in the Newark Medical Center. When the partnership dissolved in 1978, he continued in private practice in Newark and also opened a satellite office in North Rose for several years. He was also employed as Medical Director of the Wayne County Nursing Home, Newark Manor Nursing Home, Elm Manor Nursing Home and the Skilled Nursing Unit of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. In early 1989, he was appointed the first Medical Director of the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. Dr. Duffner served 19 years on the Medical Staff of the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and was President for one term. In January of 1991, he ceased all professional activity. Dr. Duffner had been licensed to practice medicine in both New York and Louisiana and he was a diplomate of the American Board of Occupational Medicine. He was a member of the Park Presbyterian Church, the Veteran of Foreign Wars, the American Medical Association, and was a past President of the Wayne County Medical Society.

Dr. Duffner is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; daughters Geraldine (Phil) Peters, PhD. of Simi Valley, CA; Mary (Dennis) Sanada, CPA of Reno, NV; a son Gerald "Jack"(Debbie) of Newport Beach, CA; granddaughter Diane (Chris) Rippe, four grandsons Gerald Duffner III, Brent, Kevin and Chad Sanada; five great grandchildren Kaycie and Kylee Rippe, Quinton, Ella and Braeden Duffner. He is also survived by stepchildren Michael (Claudia) Thurston PhD., Melanie (Robert) Newby of Penfield, Michelle (Robert) Sandy of Naples, Fl, and Tamara (Mark) Prodrick of Ontario; four step grandsons and five step-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother Ralph, a sister Virginia and wives Mabel and Helen.