Arthur Dudley Durgin

Art, also known as Dud in his early years, grew up in Wellesley Hills, MA and spent summers at Sagamore Beach, MA, enjoying tennis, swimming, sailing and lobstering. He attended high school at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA, where he graduated in May of 1945 at the age of 16. His college years included studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island; Rollins College in Orlando, Florida; Babson College in Wellesley, MA; and Boston University in Boston, MA. He graduated from Boston University in August of 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Relations.

After college, Art enlisted in the US Air Force. During his service, he was stationed at Sampson Air Force Base in Romulus, New York and Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. He served from 1951 to 1955.

While in the service, he married Norma Barbuto in 1953 and was married for 60 years. Art and Norma raised their family in Wellesley, Ashland, and Marshfield, MA. During this time, Art worked numerous jobs including corporate sales, waiter, newspaper advertising manager, and printing sales.

In 1979, Art and Norma moved to Seattle, WA where he continued his printing sales career at various area firms and his own consulting firm, Paramount Printing. In 1989, he began a second career with the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) as an audience development representative. In this position, he became very well known throughout Seattle as he built relationships with many of the paper’s readership in Seattle and the Northwest. Over the years, stories about Art and his work ethic appeared in several publications. Most notably, in 2006, the Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine section ran a story entitled “Not Done Yet,” which featured Art, and included his likeness on the cover. For many years, a framed copy of the magazine cover hung on the wall above table number two at Seattle’s iconic Metropolitan Grill. When Art retired with 26 years of dedicated service at the age of 87, PSBJ editor Emory Thomas presented Art with a framed pronouncement from Seattle Mayor Edward Murray proclaiming December 21, 2015 “Art Durgin Day.”

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/01/01/the-art-of-sales-psbjs-ace-telemarketer-shares.html

During his Seattle years, he enjoyed living at numerous locations in and around the city. Norma and he eventually called Bainbridge Island home, where he enjoyed island life and his daily round trip ferry ride to work. After retirement, Art moved to Spokane Valley, WA to be close to his family.

He had a lifelong passion for photography. He especially liked taking and sharing pictures with his family and friends. He also had a bicoastal enjoyment for baseball, meaning he loved both the Red Sox and the Mariners. Some of Art’s other interests included tennis, swimming, bridge, and ballroom dancing with his lifelong love, Norma.

Art enjoyed life and people. His positive attitude and warm personality allowed him to build instant friendships with practically anyone. Many of those friendships continued throughout his life.

Most of all, he loved his family, especially those who knew him as Dad or Gampy. The highlight of his life was staying connected with his family, either by phone, personal visits, or video chats. And, of course, all personal visits required the requisite photo, or two, or more, to appropriately capture the moment. While it is not the same as being with him, we are blessed to have a wealth of those photos as a remembrance of so many good times.

Art was preceded in death by his beloved wife Norma. He is survived by his son Stephen and Stephen’s wife Karen of Spokane Valley, WA; daughter June Durgin Henderson and Brian Evans of Marshfield, MA; grandson Gregory Durgin and his wife Brenda of Star, ID; grandson Philip Durgin and his wife Sofia of Fort Worth, TX; grandson Daniel Henderson of Doylestown, PA; granddaughter Julie Henderson and Steven Miller of Philadelphia, PA; great-grandchildren, Riley, Kasen, and Nora Durgin of Star, ID and Bella Rose Miller of Philadelphia, PA; and brother Richard Durgin of Madison, MS. He was predeceased by his brother William Durgin and sister Ann Cliff.

A private service is planned for a future date. His final resting will occur next to Norma at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle. Please sign the online guest book at www.washelli.com/obits/. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, 221 Winslow Way West, Suite 104, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, https://biparksfoundation.org/ or your charity of choice.