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In Memoriam

Jo Duffy: 1943-2019

Jo Duffy started flying with the nonprofit Aeromedicos, then flew baby eaglets to sanctuaries; mapped oil spills, tracked migrating whales, and monitored the health of the shoreline from the air with Lighthawk; and was also a search and rescue pilot for the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Jo Duffy: 1943-2019

We lost Jo Duffy on February 22, 2019. Jo was a woman who frequently asked, “How can I help?” and then responded, “Count me in.” She will be deeply missed by the Santa Barbara community.

Born in Wisconsin, Jo moved to Southern California as a child. She attended UCSB, graduating with a degree in biology in 1965. She moved to San Diego to acquire her laboratory technician certification, but when a job opened up at Cottage Hospital, Jo jumped at the chance to return.

A Santa Barbara treasure, Jo quietly volunteered her time wherever she saw that help was needed. She worked for more than a dozen nonprofits, including Crisis Helpline, and for literacy, voting, and flying organizations. Jo was considered a “gem” for her skill and commitment.