Thomas J. Duffy, formerly of Pawtucket and Little Compton passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014.  He was the loving husband of Barbara (Molloy) Duffy. They were married for 59 years.

Mr. Duffy was born in Pawtucket, the son of the late Thomas L. Duffy and Mary (Kennedy) Duffy.  He was a US Army veteran of WWII.

Mr. Duffy earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Anselm’s College and his masters in education from Bridgewater State University. Tom was a life-long teacher, coach and principal beginning his career teaching at Warren High School then serving as principal of Slater Junior High School and Shea High School in Pawtucket. Mr. Duffy was head basketball coach at Bryant University from 1962-1969 receiving RI College Coach of the Year in 1967.  Later, Mr. Duffy was inducted into the Bryant University Hall of Fame and the City of Pawtucket Hall of Fame. Tom was chairman of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Athletic Association and chairman of Pawtucket’s Centennial Committee.

Besides his loving wife, Mr. Duffy is survived by his adoring daughters, Barbara Duffy Protentis and her husband Paul of Easton, Mass., and Mary Tetzner and her husband Ed of Greenville.  He also leaves the joy in his life, his grandchildren, Elizabeth (Tetzner) Shactel, Thomas Tetzner, Sam Duffy-Protentis, Alexis Duffy-Protentis, Nicole Duffy-Protentis, Jack Duffy-Protentis and his great-grandson, Benjamin Shactel. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.  He was the brother of late James Duffy, Raymond Duffy and Francis Hodge

His funeral will be Saturday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m. from the Manning-Heffern Funeral Home, 68 Broadway, Pawtucket, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Teresa’s Church, 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket at 10 a.m. His calling hours will be Friday from 4-8 pm in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thomas Duffy Scholarship Fund at Bryant University c/o Bryant Alumni Relations or the Foundation Fighting Blindness  (www.blindness.org)