Robert Frank Duff

Robert Frank (Bob) Duff, of Hemet California, died on 17 MAR 2012 in Huntington Beach, California. He was born Birth 4 Jun 1920 in Canoe, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA. He was the eldest child of William Ward Duff, a plasterer, and Dorothy Soulliér Duff, a homemaker. The family moved to California when Bob was still preschool age. He had four younger sisters: Helen (Metz), Rosie (Hughes), Junie (Andersen) and Rena (Karras). As a young boy, Bob helped support his family during the depression with odd jobs such as gardening and selling Newspapers. As he grew older he convinced a local architect to let him apprentice at his business in turn for cleaning his office. The family also ran a Laundry in Monterey Park. Bob graduated from Alhambra High School with the class of 1938. Bob was an exceptional athlete, enjoying tennis, baseball, track and street football. He loved sports and met “an Italian beauty” (a direct quote) named Marie Miali who was the starting pitcher for the El Monte Girls team. On 28 MAR 1943 he married Marie M. Miali (Duff) and they lived in Temple City and Arcadia until she died in February 16, 1981. He married Doris M. McSweeney (Duff) in 1982. Bob enlisted in the United States Navy November 7, 1940. This is a summary of his service: AGE 21 · Completed Radio School June 7, 1941 and was assigned to the USS Nevada. Transported to Pearl Harbor Hawaii aboard Navy Troop and Transport ship the USS Wharton · December 7 1941 aboard the USS Nevada, survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor · December 14, 1941 assigned to the USS Indianapolis · February 20, 1942 First action on the Indianapolis in the South Pacific attacked by 18 twin-engine bombers · April 1942 Participated on the “Doolittle Raids” on Japan home islands aboard the Indianapolis AGE 22 · July 1942 Aleutian Islands on the Bearing Sea · November 10, 1942 Indianapolis became flag ship for Admiral Spruance commanding the Fifth Fleet. AGE 23 · Nov 20 1943 Indianapolis bombarded Tarawa Atoll and next day pounded Makin (see Battle of Makin). The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire-support ship for the landings. · Feb 11 1944 Served on the USS New Jersey February 1944 -April 1944 AGE 24 · June 20, 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea: He was back on the Indianapolis - A combined U.S. fleet fought the Japanese on 19 June in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He was receiving radio messages and relaying them to the Admiral. · June 20, 1944 Battle of Tinian · Nov 1944 LSM 140 Landing Ship Medium were ships that delivered marines to the landings. Records show that Bob served several times aboard one of these during the landings on from Nov 1944-Jan 1946. · Nov 22 1944 New Mexico arrived in Leyte Gulf to cover the movement of reinforcement and supply convoys, firing in the almost daily air attacks over the Gulf, as the Japanese posed desperate resistance. · January 6, 1945 LUZON-USS NEW MEXICO The invasion of Luzon, fought under a sky full of would-be suicide planes, against whom she was almost continually at general quarters. She fired pre-landing bombardment on 6 January 1945, and that day took a kamikaze hit on her bridge. · February 19, 1945 IWO GIMA · April 1, 1945 OKINAWA AGE 25 · July 25, 1945 He was on leave and never received his orders to report back to the Indianapolis. It sank on its way to Tinian with parts for Atomic Bomb aboard. · August 15, 1945 Victory in Japan AGE 26 · July 1946 Aboard the USS Appalachian: The atomic bomb tests to be carried out that summer at Bikini Atoll. During the months of May, June, and July, Appalachian served as a headquarters for press representatives before returning to San Francisco on 16 August While in the Navy Bob earned: Ø The Good Conduct Medal Ø Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Ø American Defense Medal Ø American Area Campaign Medal Ø Accommodation Award Ø WWII Victory Medal However, he gave away these symbols of honor because he felt undeserving and humbled in light of those who lost their lives in battle. During Bob’s service career he converted to Catholicism and credits his faith for getting him through the war healthy and ready to assume his roles as father, husband and provider. Bob completed his service and came home to his wife Marie and their two sons: Bobby, 2 ½ and Franky 9 months. He opened his own business “Duff and Associates Building Designers” on Rosemead Blvd. He designed many of the homes in Temple City, Arcadia, Pasadena, San Gabriel and San Marino. He also designed many familiar businesses such as the Clearman’s North Woods Inn and The San Gabriel Bowling Alley. His A-frame cabin design was featured on the cover of the LA Times Home Magazine. He and his wife Marie were also featured as design of the month for the innovative design of their dream home completed in 1955. Their family grew to nine children. They were active in St Luke’s Parish and Marie was on the Counsel of Women, Bob was in the Holy Name Society. The family moved to Arcadia in 1967 when the building business was in a slump. Bob and Marie made some trades but were able to get a beautiful home with a swimming pool in Arcadia. He eventually got his contractor’s license and went back to work in the building business, and later a building inspector for the City of Alhambra. After Marie passed away, Bob and his son, Bill started a new contracting business named “D&A Construction”. They built several homes and condominium projects in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Bob and his wife Doris lived in several places including: Glendale, California, Issaquah, Washington; Apache Junction, Arizona; Barstow, California and Hemet, California. Bob is best known for his inspirational attitude, always looking on the bright side and thinking of others. He showed integrity, courage, and faith, and he sacrificed so much in his life. He also survived many personal hardships in addition to the loss of his parents, his wife and sisters, Rena and Rosie: the loss of his Son, Michael (at age 34) and the loss of his son, Frank (Age 63). He also survived several heart surgeries. Once asked what his biggest goal in life was and he easily stated it was “To be a good Dad.” His children will testify that he was not just a good Dad he was an outstanding Dad. Among his children and grandchildren are teachers, caregivers, artists, managers, counselors, scholars, nurses, devoted mothers, devoted fathers, athletes, world travelers, musicians, funeral directors, spiritual counselors, Military Veterans and most of all: people who loved him dearly. He left us with several lessons like: “count your blessings; keep the peace, before you know it things will be better, and take pride in the work you do for it is a reward in itself…and his favorite.”Keep your guard up”, but probably the most profound and important message, which he lived by, was “Happiness is accepting things as they are and making the best of them.” He is survived by his wife Doris, sons Dr. Robert W Duff PhD and William P. Duff CFP; and his daughters Joan M. Newbeggin, Nancy L. Brandon, Gloriann P Connor LMFT, Kathy M Hernandez and Dori E Duff; Sons-In-Law: Bill Newbeggin, Tim L Brandon, and Larry Hernandez. Daughters-in-law: Dr. Vivian Gedali-Duff, Suellen Duff and Sue Duff; His grandchildren: Tami Wahl, Jimmy Ashton, Philip Brandon, Jennifer Wiemer, Kristie Brown, Timothy Brandon, Brandi Horsepool, Kim Holler, Kathryn Connor RN, Tricia Chretien, Christopher Duff, Robert Connor, Charles Roum, Michael Duff, Chelsea Roum, and Shayna McSweeney; Great Grandchildren: Joshua Wahl, Gregory Nolan, Stormy Ashton, Jeremy Wahl, Jordan Ashton, Jonah Wahl, Morgan Weimer, Jessie Wahl, Erin Shinkle, Nash Brandon, Aiden Chretien, Jake Brown, Brooke Brown, Parker Brown, Téa Brandon, Cole Chretien, and Evan Shinkle, and his great-great grandsons: Ashton James Geiter and Oscar Guillaume. He is also survived by and his sisters: June Anderson and Helen Metz; God Daughter Joan Barone, Sisters-In-Law: Dolly Apparcel and Joan Sinnott. Brothers-In-Law: Merrill Anderson and William Hughes; Stepchildren: Mike, Chris, Cathy. Karen, Katy and Larry.; and last but not least: his beloved nieces and nephews. Bob had a talent for squeezing every drop of love, joy, laughter and all good things out of every moment of life. He once admitted that his greatest fault was that he “colored everything to the good,” and that sometimes it caused problems. But those who knew and loved him saw this as a positive that enhanced our lives. In the final weeks before his passing Bob spoke of a big party. True-to-form he wanted the party to have plenty of food for all and he wanted a festive atmosphere; even requesting that his girls wear “sparkly tops.” Bob’s desire, and that of his family is to celebrate his wonderful, faithful, joyful life, and his passing into eternity where we know our family hero is experiencing joy with God and so many of our loved ones…and so we will!