Duffy was high school’s first principal
By:Vanessa S. Holt
FLORENCE — She was the first principal of the Florence Township Memorial High School, and an elementary school is named for her, but many township residents don’t know who Marcella L. Duffy was.
Last Monday, a portrait of Ms. Duffy was unveiled at the high school to remind students and staff of the school’s history and of the influence of this woman.
During a visit to the high school last year, township resident Mary Filipponi said the school nurse, Margaret Dougherty, mentioned that although Marcella Duffy had been the high school’s first principal, there was no portrait of her in the school.
Ms. Filipponi conducted some research at local libraries into the life of Ms. Duffy, but was unable to find much information on a woman whose name is so prominent in the community.
“I got her obituary from the Register, and we were finally able to piece together her biography,” said Ms. Filipponi.
Andrew and Letitia Torre of Torre Studios in Burlington City were commissioned to create the painting by a committee consisting of Florence Historical Society President Judy King, Ms. Dougherty, Ms. Filipponi, George Sampson, and Marion Dimon.
Ms. Filipponi remembers Ms. Duffy as an active member of St. Clare’s Parish.
“Both she and her brother, Francis, lived right across from our church and donated their house to St. Clare’s Church, which we now use for religious education,” she said.
Florence did not have a high school before September of 1942. Most Florence students went to MacFarland High School in Bordentown. The first graduating class of Florence Memorial High School, was in 1943.
The portrait will be displayed in the main corridor of the high school.
“This is not the last thing we’re going to do,” added Ms. Filipponi. “There’s no portrait or plaque about her in the school that was named for her. We’re going to work on that project.”
On May 17, 1969, the Florence Elementary School No. 1 on Second Street was renamed the Marcella L. Duffy School.
“We should enlighten the students as to who she was,” said Ms. Filipponi.
Born Nov. 29, 1894, Marcella L. Duffy was a lifelong Florence area resident and educator. She was the first principal of Florence Township Memorial High School from September 1942 to June 1957.
Ms. Duffy’s career in Florence Township schools spanned 50 years, from 1913 when she was the principal of Elementary School No. 1, to 1963 when she was superintendent of the Florence Township school system.
Ms. Duffy also founded the Florence Township PTA and the Burlington County Home Economics Extension Council. She was named Florence Township “Citizen of the Year” in 1966.
She was a member of the Francis W. Robbins American Legion Auxiliary Unit #194; the Legion of Valor of the USA Auxiliary; American Red Cross Gray Ladies; Secular Order of St. Francis, Holy Assumption Church, Roebling; Altar & Rosary Society, St. Clare’s Church, Florence; and Ancient Order of Hibernians, Florence Chapter.
Ms. Duffy, who died Dec. 9, 1968 at the age of 74, is buried in St. Clare’s Calvary Parish Cemetery.