[Oe List ...] [Dialogue] The completed life of Rob Duffy

Wed May 18 06:07:33 PDT 2016

What wonder-filled stories and witnesses of a life fully lived in the  
midst of TWLI.
Thank You one and all.
Early next month we will be with Judy & Norm Lindblad for an 80th  
birthday Launch for Norm & Dick, with Judy and me soon to follow.
Love, Grace and Peace,
Ellen & Dick
On May 17, 2016, at 10:27 PM, Marilyn Crocker via OE wrote:

> Dear OE Colleagues,
>
>
>
> When our son, Ben, informed us last week of an e-mail message from  
> his longtime friend, David Duffy, reporting that Rob had died, we  
> were shocked, then deeply saddened.  Rob and Ann were two of the  
> strongest leader-participants in the first ITI in Singapore in  
> 1969.  They partnered with the staff to ensure that the program was  
> a success with their unwavering “can do” stance – a posture we came  
> to know was a mark of all our Australian colleagues in the ITI that  
> summer, and also a year later when we and our infant twins were  
> assigned from Singapore to the Sydney House in October 1970.
>
>
>
> Rob’s leadership style was mature, quiet strength, grounded deeply  
> in an understanding of TWLI (RSI). He never needed to “prove”  
> himself, nor did he ever engage in the kind of competition I  
> observed among our younger colleagues.  He and Ann were committed  
> to our common mission, wherever and whenever, and stood as an  
> example of possibility often when others only saw impossibility.
>
>
>
> Since David was perhaps 6 months older than our twins, Ann adeptly  
> guided me through the ever changing phases of new motherhood in  
> 1970-71, suggesting when to shift from infant food to junior food,  
> when to shift from formula to boiled milk, then to whole milk as  
> well as what shots were needed at what times.
>
>
>
> Ann and I were assigned to “prior” the Summer ’71 Children’s Camp  
> in Perth, leaving our 3 infants – David, Ben and Jon – in the good  
> care of Jeanette Stanfield in Sydney.  As we took a bus trip across  
> the continent, breakfasting at one point on the Null Abor, we  
> assiduously recruited colleagues on the bus like wonderful John  
> Hutchinson, Julie Braithwaite, Pat Smith and others who had  
> intended to be participants in the adult program, but who chose to  
> work with us as teachers at the camp.  That was the summer that we  
> had a number of children from Mowanjum, many of whom had chronic  
> dysentery and then experienced other disruptions because they were  
> far from home.  Ann was the “Saint” of the “littlees”, as she  
> called them, and the rest of us dealt with the older kids.  What a  
> wonderful summer it was!
>
>
>
> In 1994 when Joe began his last appointment to the Washington Park  
> UMC in Providence, RI, David Duffy was visiting Ben and they helped  
> us move into our home in RI. We had lots of opportunities to “hang  
> out”, while moving boxes and enjoying time on the patio. I was  
> deeply impressed with David, as a secular spirit man, deeply  
> grounded in RSI, but utterly open, welcoming and conversant with a  
> new age.
>
>
>
> I mention this as a powerful legacy of Rob and Ann’s parenting –  
> teaching but not forcing, modelling but not imposing, inquiring but  
> always being receptive.
>
>
>
> I realize in all that I have written about Rob, it is inextricably  
> related to his life with his wonderful wife Ann.  And why not!    
> What a blessing you both have been together and continue to be.
>
>
>
> Grace, peace and love
>
>
>
> Marilyn and Joe
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of via OE
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 1:39 PM
> To: Jack Gilles; Tracy Longacre via OE; Frank Cookingham via Dialogue
> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] The completed life of Rob Duffy
>
>
>
> We remember Rob the best for his amazing assistance during our time  
> in Tonga.  He was there for the training schools, and was always  
> interested in and helpful to us all in journeying our Tonga  
> colleagues and ourselves in a very isolated place.  We knew we  
> could always depend on him.  At the end of one training event, we  
> took the ferry back to Tongatapu.  It was 12 – 15 hours on an open  
> deck with hardly any shelter.  Rob’s back was hurting him terribly,  
> and he sat bolt upright on a cement post for the whole trip.  I  
> will always remember him as being a pillar of dedication and  
> determination.  Our love to Ann and the family.  Clare & Ken Whitney
>
>
>
> From: Jack Gilles via Dialogue
>
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 10:32 AM
>
> To: Tracy Longacre via OE ; Frank Cookingham via Dialogue
>
> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] The completed life of Rob Duffy
>
>
>
> Oh my, what a man! I have such fond memories of both Rob and Ann at  
> summer programs and Priors meetings. They were part of the  
> remarkable spirit colleagues that came from Australia. I am so  
> grateful to have know him and I have such gratitude for his  
> greatness. My prayers are for Ann and all the rest of our beautiful  
> colleagues from “down under”. Blessings to you all. The Australian  
> Southern Cross has another star in it if you look real close.
>
>
>
> Grace and Peace,
>
>
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> On May 16, 2016, at 11:02 AM, John Ballard via Dialogue  
> <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> We are sad to hear this news.  Rob was such a distinguished  
> gentleman but when we saw him with the sleeves of his dress shirt  
> rolled up ready to get to work, we knew he was an exceptional  
> colleague.  He and Ann were always so kind and helpful to us:  both  
> in Chicago and when Rob was prior at the nexus in Hong Kong while  
> we were at Nam Wai HDP.   Blessings and love to Ann and all the  
> family.  You have always been special to us.
>
>
>
> Grace and peace,
>
> Jack, Louise, Chris and Peter
>
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