YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Mr. Cecil L. “Duff” Duffett, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday February 8, 2021.
He was born on October 1, 1927 in Vickery, Ohio, to George and Mildred (Yechley) Duffett.
Mr. Duffett was a graduate of Austintown-Fitch High School (1945).
Austintown Fitch High School Alumni Tribute
Duffett proudly served his country in the United States Air Force where he became a recipient of the GI BILL.
He attended Youngstown State University, where he spent two years as a letterman in both basketball and baseball for the Penguins. “Duff” received his Masters in Education (1959) from Kent State University.
Mr. Duffett was a great athlete who became a head coach, assistant basketball coach, and sports director. “Duff” played in three sports for the Fitch Falcons and two sports for the Youngstown State University Penguins. He was inducted into two prestigious Athletic Hall of Fames; the Austintown-Fitch HOF and the Curbstone Coaches HOF. Upon retirement, Duffett became the commissioner of the Steel Valley Conference. The SVC was arguably one of the best high school athletic conferences in the United States.
“Duff” was a very active member of the Zion Lutheran Church. “Duff’s” second service was The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), where he served on the FCA Board of Directors for nearly two decades. He raised over $ 340,000 for FCA ministries.
“Duff” goes to remember his lovely wife, Joann, a retired teacher and chairman of the English department at Fitch High School. three sons, Rev. Dr. Robert Duffett, Reform Church Development Director, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dr. Raymond Duffett, Orthopedist, Canfield, Ohio, and Canfield Mayor Richard Duffett, Securitas Security Solutions, USA, Inc .; a brother, Daryl “Jim” Duffett of Canfield; eight grandchildren; a great-grandson and many special nieces and nephews and many good friends.
Before Mr. Duffett, his sister Glenna Mae Beebe died.
Personal funeral services will be held this Saturday, February 13, 2021 at
Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Youngstown, with the incumbent Rev. Duane Jesse. Mr. Duffett’s son, Rev. Dr. Robert Duffett will give the laudatory speech.
The tour runs from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a 11:00 AM military service in Zion’s great sanctuary, which facilitates social distancing. All security protocols are in place for everyone’s safety. Masking, sanitary stations and 6 ‘social distancing take effect. All guests are warmly asked to leave the church immediately after greeting the family. Please don’t hang around.
Commemorative donations may be made to Zion in honor of Mr. Cecil L. Duffett
Lutheran Church.
Arrangements of Funeral home of the Lane family.
To send flowers to the family of Cecil L. Duffett please visit our Tribute store.
A TV Tribute will air on Thursday, February 11th at approximate times: 7:10 am on FOX, 12:22 pm on WKBN, 5:08 pm on MyYTV, and 7:27 pm on WYTV.
