Dick Duffey to Retire from Risk Management, Again

By Mary McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/1/03)

Dick Duffey (pictured at right), risk manager for the diocese, will be leaving the Chancery offices in June to retire, again. Duffey began working as Catholic Mutual’s claims risk manager in 1987. Ten years later, he retired, for the first time. In June, Duffey will retire from the "part-time" job he came back to in 1999.

"It’s a great job and a great place to work, if you want to work full time, and I don’t. I came back four years ago for a nice sedentary job."

When he came back in 1999, Duffey did not expect that the risk management office would be as busy as it is today. With so many churches being built and renovated in the last few years, the job of risk manager has become more than one person can handle in a part-time job.

Father Daniel Maher, episcopal vicar for finance, recently asked Duffey to make a job description for his replacement, and Duffey said it took a while to figure out everything he did.

Most of his work revolves around the construction sites scattered throughout the diocese. The risk manager is responsible for inspecting new building sites and checking the insurance of the builders and contractors. He inspects parishes and monitors student accident reports from the schools and employee injuries and processes claims to the diocesan insurance company.

Before working for the Chancery, Duffey had retired from a job with Maryland Casualty Insurance Company where he had worked for 31 years.

He and his wife, Ann, have attended St. Ann Parish in Arlington for 40 years. Duffey has been involved at the parish by serving on the parish advisory committee, as a Boy Scout leader and by participating in Mass as a lector and head usher.

Once he retires, Duffey said, "My wife’s got a lot of plans for me, but I don’t." He plans on donating his time to help others and performing charitable works and he looks forward to having more time to play golf.

Duffey is originally from Winchester, where he lived until 1955. He has plenty of stories to tell about the small town and his exploits, from his trips out to the rural Siler to his singing act with Patsy Cline.

His stories and jokes will be missed at the Chancery offices. Ann Jemielity from the accounting office described Duffey as "jolly" and remarked on how the department has enjoyed his frequent, almost daily, visits to tell them stories and sample any goodies the ladies in accounting may have baked.

"We’ll really miss him," said Janet Robeson from the accounting department. "Like the woodwork, Duffey’s always been here."

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