Richard J. Duff

Richard J. Duff was a man who touched the lives of many, loved deeply by those closest to him, and cherished far more than he ever knew. Though his life was cut short, his fighting spirit and dedication to service preserved him to the very end. Richard lived many lives, from his service in the army, managing a retail store, to his ascent through the technical ranks of network engineering in the early days of the internet. Throughout it all, his sacrifice and dedication to his wife and children made him the bedrock of his family. A common thread of creativity connected the many disparate parts of the journey that shaped him into such a vibrant, wonderful person. He was sharp as a tack and driven by a wide array of passions, from photography, traditional art, and more music than any one person could even keep track of. His intensity served him well throughout his career, and kept him busy through his early retirement.

He never left the absolute cutting edge of technology, and dedicated himself to the principle of "askida ekmek", or paying it forward. He had designs of expressing his love and gratitude through philanthropy, and still created art on a daily basis. He was full of ambition, dreams and hope right to his final moments, and the greatest shame of his passing is the world will never truly know how many cards he had left to play. He possessed immense fortitude to endure decades of chronic pain, and still inspired everyone around him to be kinder, more open-minded and to see

the potential we all have within us. He was a mentor to anyone who needed guidance, a friend to anyone who needed a laugh, and a hero to everyone who leaned on him. His heart was an inferno, his intellect was an ocean, and his will was steel. To honor Richard's legacy, do yourself the favor of striving to be the person he believed you could be.

He is missed so much and adored more than any words could express. No amount of small words and feeble letters could describe the kaleidoscope of life he led and people he loved, but we hope that this brief glimpse is enough for now.

Preceding him in death is his father, Zeek Duff, who passed on 4/19/2019. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Duff and his children Joseph, Brittany, Ryan and Liam. He is also survived by his mother, Gayle Brockmiller and his brother, Jemiah Duff and his family.

A small service has been held in his honor. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Tampa Burn Center.