Obituaries

Winifred A. Duane


Winifred A. Duane passed away on November 5, 2009 in New York City after a short illness.


Winifred was born in 1925 in the Bronx and grew up in Queens. She was educated at Our Lady of Wisdom Academy and became an executive assistant to a vice president at American Airlines.


In 1950, Winifred married James J. Duane Jr. of Queens. Jim was a stockbroker and Winnie and Jim had four sons: James, John, Thomas and William.


In 1974, James purchased the Dering Harbor Inn and Restaurant. He ran the inn and restaurant until 1985 when he sold to investors who converted the inn into cooperative apartments. 


Jim and Winnie were very much involved in the management of the Dering Harbor Inn and together led restaurant guests to the dance floor on Saturday evenings.


Winnie and Jim maintained a residence at the Dering Harbor Inn until Jim passed away in 1995. Winnie continued to have a residence there until 2006.


The Duane’s primary residence was in Flushing, Queens from 1955 until 2004 when Winnie moved into Manhattan.


Winnie and Jim were members of the Shelter Island Yacht Club and Gardiner’s Bay Country Club. They absolutely loved Shelter Island, family members recalled, and spent as much time as they could at their second home.


Winnie’s son William died in 1995. She is survived by James J. Duane III of Boston, John F. Duane of Little Neck and Shelter Island and the Honorable Thomas K. Duane of Manhattan. She is also survived by her grandchildren: James, David, Caitlin, Mae, Sean and Hannah.


Donations may be sent to Lehigh University for the Winifred A. and James J. Duane Jr. Scholarship Fund, 27 Memorial Drive, Bethlehem, PA 10815; or to the Daughters of Wisdom, 385 Ocean Avenue, Islip, NY 11751.