L. Stephen Durkee

Steve Durkee, age 89. A bright light went out in Wellfleet MA. when Steve Durkee died on June 11, at noon. He died peacefully, quickly, painlessly and at home; this was exactly what he wanted and how he wanted. He was born in Salem , MA and lived for most of his life in Framingham and Wellfleet.

Steve was an amazing, unique guy who affected everyone he knew. He was a devoted husband to Nancy, his wife of 50 years, a great father and was beloved to many of his children’s friends. He made people and places better, inspired generations of students and had a generous heart. He lived his life fully and embraced every day with intense curiosity. He graduated in 1950 from Mass. College of Art, in Boston, and loved his 31 years as a Professor of Art at Framingham State University. Though he was retired nearly as long as he worked, he never stopped working: he was amazingly productive as an artist, a poet, an advocate, and community leader. Steve was an instigator and entrepreneur who acted on ideas to enrich his communities. He was a founder of The Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham; started the Museum of American Architecture, a traveling exhibit designed to educate the public about the styles of architecture in New England, and organized the first group of The Wellfleet Gardeners. He was especially fervent about creating affordable housing on the lower Cape, serving on the Wellfleet Housing Authority for 13 years and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. He sailed and rowed; he tamed crows; he loved architecture and beautifully designed things, and was the builder of many homes, three of them designed and built with his sons in Wellfleet. He read a lot and thought big; he spoke in exclamations!

Steve first came to Wellfleet with his parents in 1932 and learned to sail in Chipman’s Cove. He loved living his life in Wellfleet, a truly special place, and he leaves a legacy that will be appreciated by many for years and years to come. Anyone who has walked the shoreline of Duck Creek knows about The Benches, a sitting spot created and maintained by Steve for years. His granddaughter, Sela, added the Bench Books, in which visitors to the benches can write. Seeing people enjoying the benches and reading the notes they left in the bench books gave him immense joy. He hosted several weddings of friends and neighbors on his property, as well, sharing freely what he had. On his 80th birthday, when asked what he thought made for a good life, Steve said, without hesitation: “Oh, that’s easy…giving!” He believed in the power of generosity and modeled it exquisitely.

He leaves his family behind: sons, Steve and Scott Durkee; daughter, Susan Durkee; grandchildren, Jeevon and Kerewyn Durkee and Asher and Sela Kenen; and Rosalind Pace, his loving companion of twelve years. He also leaves behind his sister, Constance Clark, and a long list of nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, and neighbors who are as close as family; all will miss him greatly. A memorial service for Steve will be held in September. In his memory, all are encouraged to give a contribution to The Four Rivers Educational Foundation in Greenfield, MA to Cape Cod Habitat For Humanity, or to volunteer in his name.