Former Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Massachusetts Division of Insurance
Joseph Daniel Duffy, 78, of Bloomfield, beloved husband of Carolyn (Belisle) Callahan, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, with family by his side. Joseph was born in Brooklyn, NY, son of the late Joseph D. and Helen (Lilly) Duffy, and he grew up on Long Island where he made life-long friends with the Doyle family, a family he considered part of his own. He attended Catholic schools and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from St. Michael’s College in Vermont and his master’s degree from Boston University. Joe served our country during Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force.
After obtaining his MBA, Joe worked in the insurance industry his whole career. He was the Treasurer at Citizens Insurance in Michigan and later became the CFO of Hanover Insurance Company in Massachusetts. After leaving Hanover, Joe entered public service in the role of Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of Massachusetts. Later, Joe was asked to consult for many insurance companies, with PriceWaterhouseCoopers creating a new position for him given his expertise. In retirement, Joe became a member of the Board of Directors for the Hospitality Mutual Insurance Company, a position he held until his death.
Sailing was Joe’s passion and he enjoyed many sailing trips with friends and family to the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and other locations. He was also an excellent cook and loved entertaining family and friends.
Joe was a friend of Bill W. and found many wonderful friends and important relationships through AA. The AA community meant so much to Joe, his family is so grateful for their support.
Joe’s family wishes to send a special thank you to his wonderful caregivers for their loving and compassionate care during his illness. Along with his wife of over 3 years, Carolyn of Bloomfield, he leaves his daughters Elizabeth Corritore and her husband Robert of Wallingford, PA, and Joanne Duffy of Queens, NY; his step-children Patrick Callahan and his wife Jennifer of Great Falls, VA, and Kathleen Callahan-Hardman and her husband Raymond of West Hartford; his beloved grandson, Nicholas Corritore; his step-grandchildren John Callahan, Andrew Callahan, Benjamin Hardman, and Jackson Hardman; and his brother-in-law James Belisle and his wife Diane of Westfield, MA. He also leaves many cousins and friends too numerous to mention.
