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Duffy Family - circa 1927 - in Tulip St. backyard
| Duffy
Grandparents and children
Top: Gerald, John, Joseph,
Francis
Bottom: Maizie
(Mary), Grandmom Mary O'Brien, Grandpop
John J., Catherine, Margaret
Deceased:
Christopher, Michael Palmer (Margaret's
twin)
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Gerald and Rose
McDevitt Duffy Family - April 1974
Rose McDevitt
Duffy & children-Joe & Barb's Wedding
(Dad missing from photo)
Top row: Kathleen,
Elaine, Patricia, Mom, Elizabeth
(Betty) Rosemary
Bottom: Gerald
(Jerry), James(Jim), Joseph (Joe), John
(Jack)
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Mc Devitt Family - 1935
McDevitt
"children" - Aunt Peg & Uncle George's
wedding (Grandparents not in photo)
Top row, on right:
Peg, Jim
Middle: Rose, Marie,
Mildred, Jean
Bottom: Betty,
Marian, Rita
(Rose was 21 at
this time with 3 children - Rosemary,
Jack, & Betty)
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Circa 1900 ??
Our Grandfather,
John J. Duffy
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Circa 194X ??
Dad and Mom - in
Atlantic City?? |
Circa 191X ??
| Our Grandfather
Patrick McDevitt |
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Our Grandmother
Mary O'Brien Duffy
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1947
Mom & Dad at
Aunt Betty & Uncle Larry's wedding
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Circa 1909/10 ?
Our Grandmother
Elizabeth Jones McDevitt
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Our Great
Grandfather John Duffy
| This is (probably) a
picture of our Great Grandfather John Duffy, John J.'s
father. It was found beneath a picture of
our Great Aunt Ellen. It is a tint-type
and was retouched. Picture courtesy of our
2nd cousin, Patrick Taylor of Dublin, whose
Grandmother is Ellen, John J.'s sister (see
Duffy Family Tree). |
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Mom and Dad's
Marriage Certificate
from Nativity BVM
Church
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THE STORY
BEHIND A SONG:
In 1929, when Gerald and
Rose were dating, he wrote and published a
song about her - "What A Wonderful Pal You
Have Been". Many years later,Michael
Jovovich, a grandson, has included it in his
singing act - to greataudience
applause! Click on below to hear the
song as sung by Michael --
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LINK TO MP3 FILE
Click here to
go to Michael's website! |
From The Chester Times - Aug. 11, 1931
Mom was 17 yrs.
old (see Baptism Cert. on Duffy
Parents' Family History Page)
Gerald and
Rose were a couple from about 1928 thru
1931. Apparently Rose's family
disapproved of the match because they
thought Rose was too young to
marry. So Gerald and Rose
eloped to Brooklyn and got a civil
marriage in early Feb. 1931 (possibly in
The Little Church Around The Corner' in
NYC). Gerald sent a postcard to
his Mom, dated 3/3/1931, saying
"Rose McDevitt and I were married about
5 weeks ago - we're doing alright.
Gerald". Jeremiah and Patrick
McDevitt went up to Brooklyn and brought
Rose home. A formal Catholic
ceremony was arranged, and
Gerald & Rose were
married in Nativity BVM
Church on Tuesday, Aug. 11,
1931. The sponsors were
Thomas Walls and Maria Taylor (who
was probably Grandmom Duffy's niece
- Margaret M. Taylor's daughter)?
After
marrying and needing more
income, Gerald looked around for a
job outside of music. A telegram
dated 12/10/1931 says "Jerry Duffy has
quit writing songs and is working in the
coal yard - but play the Pal song
anyhow". It was a bittersweet
moment in time for him
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Mom - about 16/17
before marriage - 1930 ??
Mom was going to a
seamstress & millinery school about
this age - did she design & make the hat?
Dad - about
1943-1945 while working at Cramp
3rd from left - at
Union function (probably Atlantic City) He was a shop
steward
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Circa 1928/1929
Advert for Dad
Duffy's Masters of Melody Band
Jerry Duffy (our Dad)
loved music. He played the drums,
the bones, and wrote words & music
for songs. He had his own band per
the adv. sheet above - around 1928 thru
1931?
He worked for a music
publisher & arranger, Jack
Chancelor, around 17th & Arch Sts. in Phila.
and also Billy James
'Everything in Music', 1026 Chestnut
St., 2nd Floor, Phila.
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Jerry Duffy's Band calling cards |
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