Claudia Smith Duffy

Emory, VA Claudia Smith Duffy - Viewed from afar it seems a full but ordinary life: cheerleader in high school, college student who never finished, mother to three, long time secretary, and beloved wife. But viewed through a more powerful lens, it’s not so ordinary at all: housefellow and surrogate mother to hundreds of students in a dorm at Vassar College, summer programs coordinator and secretary to the Board of Trustees at Vassar, long time gatekeeper, unofficial counselor, taskmaster in the Dean of Students Office, and friend to hundreds more students at Emory & Henry. Irreverent, outspoken, wise, and worshipped by the students who worked for/with her, Claudia Duffy left an indelible mark on the communities where she lived and worked. She was also a longtime advocate for the mentally ill and served for many years on the SWVA Mental Health Institute Local Human Rights Committee and the Highlands Community Services Abingdon Board of Directors. Born in Washington DC on January 26, 1947, Claudia passed away on March 21, 2015. She is survived by her mother, Eleanor Mills of Charlottesville, VA; husband, Michael Duffy of Emory, VA; two daughters, Aileen (and partner Douglas Brown) of Lawrence, MA and Erin of Emory, VA; a son, Barclay of Abingdon, VA; two brothers, Norman Smith (and wife Dana) of Weems, VA, and Randolph Smith (and wife Barbara) of Richmond, VA; a sister, Amy Smith of Charlottesville, VA; two sisters-in-law, Judith Parsons (and husband Richard) of Quincy, MA and Patricia Duffy (and husband Joseph Paul) of Holyoke, MA; niece, Elizabeth Parsons of Quincy, MA; three nephews, Timothy Asher Smith (and wife Abby), Justin Smith (and wife Jennifer), and Andrew Smith, all of Richmond, VA; step-mother, Jenifer Duffy (of Naples, FL); three step-sisters, Laurie Moskowitz-Corrois (and husband Jean-marie) of Somerville, MA, Diane Pickett (and husband Dave Clark) of Fairfax, VA, and Carol Belding (and husband Dave) of Columbia, SC; two step-brothers, Mark Pickett (and wife Betty) of Warrenton, VA, and William Pickett (and fiancee Stephanie Marshall) of Centreville, VA; and dozens of beloved nieces and nephews too numerous to mention here. Preceding Claudia in death were her father, Norman Smith; her step-father, John Mills; her father-in-law, Robert Duffy; her mother in-law, Elizabeth Duffy; her brother-in-law, Barclay Duffy; and sister-in-law, Marian Duffy. Services will begin at the Emory & Henry Chapel at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2015. Wear comfortable shoes, because those of us who are ambulatory will be walking to the grave site (if that seems like too much of a challenge, please feel free to drive up the hill). Following the burial we will gather at Macado’s for a celebration of Claudia’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Claudia's memory to be applied to a special fund to help Emory & Henry students cope with unforeseen expenses. Donations earmarked, "Student Emergency Fund," should be mailed to: Emory & Henry College, P.O. Box 950, Emory, Virginia 24327. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The Duffy family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.