Edward McDuffie

Edward Rees McDuffie, 86 of Bellaire passed away Monday, May 17, 2021 at home.  He was born July 9, 1934 in Cincinnati, OH the son of Roy and Elizabeth (Babbitt) McDuffie.

Ed was a lifelong Firefighter and EMT.  He started out in Bellaire in 1970, and became the fire Chief from 1977 until 1990.  He was a Michigan Firefighter training instructor for many years and very passionate about educating Firefighters.  He served as the Antrim County Emergency Service Chairman, Bellaire District Fire Authority Chairman, on the Antrim County Arson Team, and was a board member of the Regional Training Center in educating Firefighters and Fire Officers.  Ed was instrumental in acquiring Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) for cardiac arrest and in obtaining a Compressor to fill Air Bottles for all fire departments in Antrim County.   He also coordinated the purchase of the Mobile Command Post for large scale emergencies in the county.

In 1957 Ed graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Cincinnati and received his Master's in Education from Michigan State in 1963.  When not serving his community in the above mentioned ways, Ed was educating the youth of Bellaire.  He was a dedicated teacher in the Bellaire Public Schools before retiring after many years of faithful service.  Ed also educated the public with his knowledge of Torch Lake and the surrounding areas.  He and Mary Kay authored “Torch Lake – The History of WAS-WAH-GO-NING”, capturing over 10,000 years of history, geology, and stories of survival in the great north woods.

Ed was a long term member of the Torch Lake Yacht Club.  Always committed to service, he became a member of the “Rusty Zippers”, a group of retired club members who did tasks around the club and enjoyed each other’s company.  Ed enjoyed photography.  He liked both taking the photos and spending time in the dark room developing them.  He was a voracious reader and student of nature.  He also enjoyed spending time at deer camp in the U.P. and target shooting.

Surviving is his son Michael (Tina) McDuffie of Ellsworth, wife Chris VanLooy, 7 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Mary Kay McDuffie, son Tom McDuffie, daughter Katherine “Trina” McDuffie Pung, 2 brothers, and 1 sister.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, May 25th at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church in Bellaire with Fr. Chet Collins officiating.   The family will receive friends Monday, May 24th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Interment will take place on Thursday, May 27th at 11 a.m. in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Bellaire District Fire Department, PO BOX 483, Bellaire, MI 49615.

Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.