American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Summer 2024 NEWS
Remembering Penny Duffy
by Cassie McKinney
From the Editor: With the passing of Penny Duffy on June 25, 2024, the blind community lost a beloved friend and tireless supporter. NOPBC President Cassie McKinney shares this heartfelt tribute.
Sometimes it seems that we are unable to share how much we care for those around us or express the true impact they have on our world until they have left us. When we come face to face with the loss of a friend, colleague, or loved one, we reflect on the magnitude of who they were and the void they leave behind.
Penny Duffy was one of the most caring, outgoing, and kind-hearted people I have ever met. Her love for her family and her desire to change how society viewed and supported blind people were evident in every part of her life.
I met Penny back in 2011, when she and her daughter Abby came to their first National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire Convention. That convention was the spark that lit the fire in Penny. She quickly became active in the organization. She was hungry for our philosophy and for the opportunity to be around others who shared her passion. Although she started by looking for support for her daughter and herself, she soon shifted toward wanting a way to give back.
Penny was always eager to be involved in activities such as Washington Seminar. She became very active with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) on the state level and on the national level as well. She was elected to the NOPBC Board of Directors and served there for many years.
Much can be said about Penny's leadership, but I want to focus on another side of Penny that many people knew, the depth and power of her friendships. If you spent much time with Penny, you know she had the biggest heart ever, and she formed friendships very easily. She loved to celebrate life events with others—a new job, a marriage, a new baby, or a new NFB chapter. She was always so happy sharing in these moments! She offered compassion when it was needed, and she had a wonderful way of seeing the positive in every situation.
One of Penny's greatest loves was going to the National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. She loved meeting new people, seeing old friends, and just being in a space with others who shared her passions. She always encouraged people to go to convention, and she would highlight some of her favorite reasons why it was important.
After fighting the most courageous fight she could, Penny passed away peacefully, surrounded by her beloved family, on June 25, 2024, just days before this year's convention. Those who were close to her knew the struggles she had faced over the past few years. Though the loss was very hard for all of us, Penny's medical battle could not go on. Penny will always be with us, guiding us as we continue the work that was her passion. Her legacy will live on.
The NOPBC is establishing a fund in Penny's memory to help families attend the NFB National Convention. Donations can be made through our website, nopbc.org. Please note that your donation is for the Penny Duffy Memorial Fund. Penny's search for support for her daughter brought her to our organization, and we came to love her and be loved by her. Now, through this memorial fund, we can show our love and support to others.
In the days following Penny's passing, many people shared their memories on social media. Melissa Riccobono wrote this tribute to our wonderful friend, who we will miss forever:
"Penny, my friend, I, and so many others, already miss you! Your laugh. Your love of life. Your gentle heart, always giving. You were, and I believe still are, truly a helper. Someone who always wanted to give and to say yes! How many board meetings were we in together where I, or someone else, would say to you, 'Penny, you cannot, and should not, be doing everything! We know you love to say yes, but maybe, this time, you need to say no.' And you would laugh and say, 'I know, but I just want to do it all!' And you always did so much! Even when your health meant you were forced to say no more often than you would have liked, you still kept your eyes on the prize and said yes to the things that truly mattered to you. Working kept you going forward. Giving gave you a reason to fight as hard and long as you could.
“Penny, I believe that heaven, for you, is a place not exactly of rest. Yes, it is a place of peace, where you are no longer in any pain. But I believe it is also a place where you can finally, without hesitation, say yes with your whole heart and spirit, and get back to doing the work you loved most: helping your family, your friends, and anyone else you could, in all the ways you now can. Giving, helping, and saying yes are ways I will keep your memory alive for as long as I'm here. And I know you and I will be able to work together again when next we meet.
“My love to your family! My love to you. I won't say rest in peace, because, as I said, I can't imagine you ever really resting. But I will say, work without pain. Work without any limits on your energy. And we'll be down here working alongside you to change our little corners of the world for the better a little at a time. That's how we'll keep your light burning.”