Duffy immortalized as a determined leader

To many people, Caribou’s all-star coach was a hero. Whether it was on the basketball court, on a baseball diamond, on the golf course, or with his family, Gerald “Gerry” Duffy was a determined and positive man, and his personal philosophy on life affected more than just his basketball players on the court.
    True to form, Duffy continued his fight off court in a battle against pancreatic cancer. After a valiant and courageous fight for more than two years, Duffy passed away on March 16, 2007. Although he is gone from this world, memories and his life lessons will live on through those he touched during his lifetime.
The East Millinocket native was known for his tremendous athletic skills. Before he coached in Limestone and Caribou, Duffy excelled as an athlete in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. After turning down an opportunity to join the Boston Braves, he joined the semipro baseball ranks with the Houlton Collegians and Woodstock Lions in the Maine-New Brunswick League in the 1950s.
“He was a hard worker and a great athlete,” said Dwight Hunter, who was the athletic director while Duffy coached and also remained a longtime friend. “In the shape he was in back then, he might have been playing in the Majors today. There were only eight Major League Teams back then.”
In Caribou, what Duffy was the most known for was leading the boys varsity basketball team to four consecutive finals in the Eastern Maine basketball tournaments. In his career as the Viking coach, he compiled a record of 373-151 for a .712 winning percentage. The Vikes were state champs in 1969 and Eastern Maine champs in 1983.
“We would pack the [Caribou] gym every night for four years. From 1980-1983, no matter what. We went to the Eastern Maine finals every year. The town was completely behind the program,” said Hunter.
Duffy always pushed his basketball players to have a positive attitude, both on the court and in their own personal lives. He set a good example for sportsmanship by never disrespecting the referees or the other team, and in his 31 years of coaching he only had one technical foul.
“As an athletic director, I knew he’d always look after the kids and on the bench he would conduct himself in a way that the Caribou School Department could be proud. He was a positive influence on the student body and he was an educator first, certainly with the basketball players,” stated Hunter. “He was the most optimistic person I’ve ever met. I’m pretty sure he convinced his team that they could beat the Celtics.”
Jim Carter, Duffy’s assistant basketball coach from 1984-1988 and friend, agreed with Hunter. As an assistant coach he learned that in order to have a good season, the coach needed to reflect a positive attitude.
“He was a very determined person. The determination to be successful relayed through the players,” said Carter. “As an assistant coach, I learned about Duffy’s philosophies [in life and on the court] and developed my own from that. We both thought that there has to be discipline outside the court to be successful.”
Duffy was not only dedicated to Caribou’s basketball team, but also to the development of coaching techniques across the state. He attended many clinics and provided a playbook of drills, not only for himself, but for the sub-varsity (junior varsity) teams as well.
“[Duffy] was great to work with and very encouraging. He helped me to continue to create a desire to become a head coach,” said Carter. “He came the last year I coached to the state quarterfinals. I wasn’t able to talk to him, but I saw him and he gave me a thumbs-up. It was important because that was the first time that Caribou won the quarterfinals since [Duffy] coached in 1983.”
Duffy affected many more people off the court as well. Paula Johnson Merritt, now of Bangor, remembered being in the CHS band/loud cheering section during tournament; but she felt that Duffy was much more than a coach.
“Coach Duffy wasn’t just our sports coach. He was a life coach. I especially remember the Red Cross first aid classes and NRA rifle safety trainings he did. He wanted us to know everything, have every advantage, and to be prepared for life. Gerry Duffy was an inspiring teacher who knew how to keep students interested and respectful. I am so saddened over this loss. He is definitely gone too soon,” said Johnson Merrit.
In their daily interactions with Duffy off the court, both Carter and Hunter remember him as a very humorous man who was constantly joking around with his friends.
“If he ever had a nemesis, it was Coach [Roland] Duprey. They golfed all the time together, and argued for fun,” said Hunter. “One time they were on the number six green at the Caribou Country Club, and Duffy said that whoever was the farthest from the hole on the putt would get a dollar from the other person. Duprey made the putt and Duffy was about a foot away. Duprey celebrated and said Duffy owed him a dollar, but Duffy just laughed and said that the winner was the farthest away.”
“We would travel together for coaches clinics and Duprey and Duffy would get into good discussions,” agreed Carter. “They could be discussing baseball or basketball, and they would fight from Augusta to Caribou. It was humorous to listen to because they could go right at it and still be the best of friends.”
Both men also agreed that family was extremely important to Duffy as well.
“Gerry worshipped his wife. You could hear it in his voice when we would talk [about our families]. It was great to see that side of him,” said Carter.
At the calling hours for Duffy, Carter remembered hearing something that Peter Webb, Maine basketball commissioner, recalled about Duffy.
“Peter said that there were two words that Gerry never used, ‘I can’t.’ And he’s right. I never heard him use those words. Today it’s too easy to say it, but he was determined that he and his teams would be the best,” stated Carter.
Although one of the community’s greatest heroes has lost a long and hard battle, he has touched the lives of many people, and will continue to live on through all the stories they share and the philosophies he taught them.