Obituary of Josephine Veronica Duffy

Josephine Veronica Duffy, loving sister, mother, grandmother and telecommunications executive, died on September 17 in Greenwich Hospital at the age of 93. She spent her entire business career at AT&T as an electronics engineer and senior executive. She played a key role in designing and commercializing the architecture of three generations of global telecommunications; undersea cables, satellites and fiber optics; often acting as the company's representative in negotiations with foreign governments and their national communications companies. At her retirement after 42 years in 1982, she was one of the highest ranking women executives in the company. Mrs. Duffy was born on February 8, 1916 in New York as the oldest girl in the family of 14 children. She worked her way through school as a model and graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a double major in mathematics and physics in 1940. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 50 years, James Duffy Sr., in 2005. She is survived by her son Jim and wife Sandi Duffy of Darien; daughter Patricia and husband Richard Perino of Stamford and daughter Joan Woodroof of New Canaan; and four grandchildren Michele Perino, Laura Perino, Ryan Duffy and Riley Woodroof. Six of her siblings also survive her, Kathleen McNeil of Boynton Beach, FL; John Duffy of Camden, ME; Margaret Gronfeldt of La Cresenta, CA; Virginia Rocheleau of Cape Neddick, ME; Eileen Duffy of Cape Neddick, ME and Charles Duffy of Hollywood, FL. The wake was be held at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 on Monday, September 21 and the funeral mass was conducted by Fr. J Barry Furey at St. Thomas More Church on Tuesday, September 22 at 10 AM. A reception will follow at Wee Burn Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to THE CONVENT OF ST. BIRGITTA, 4 Runkenhage Road, Darien, CT 06820. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820