James M. Duryea, 74, of Glen Cove, New York, died peacefully on May 17, 2018 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. He is predeceased by his parents, Bub and Sis Duryea, his brother Center Hitchcock, and his sister Missy Duryea Butterfield. Jay is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda; his children Mindy (Sandy Draper), Megan Scott (Christopher), and Oakley (LeeLee); his brother Bobby, his in-laws Hawley VanderPoel (Janice), Bea Banker (Bindy), Susan Barrett, and Ken VanderPoel (Barbara), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. “JBird” to Isabel, August, and Alix Draper; Cordelia and Oliver Scott; Lila and Wells Duryea.
He attended Green Vale, Aiken Prep, Middlesex School, and Boston University. Jay worked briefly as an operating room technician at Glen Cove Hospital, and then served in the US Marine Corps. As a commercial pilot, he flew twin otters for Pilgrim Airlines and then 727’s for Northeast Airlines. He was both a Governor and a Director of the New York Stock Exchange, where he worked as an independent floor trader for J.M Duryea, Inc. for 35 years.
Jay came to Fishers when he was nine and summered there for 65 years. Some of the happiest times Jay had on Fishers: fishing at the Race, “The Porch” at Hay Harbor, playing in the tidal pools at the Big Club with his grandchildren, warming a stool at “The Quot” with Dicky Grebe and the guys he grew up with, and many hours at the FI airstrip shooting the breeze with Helen Best.
Jay served on the board of the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club and is an honorary director there. He also served on the boards of Lattingtown Village and Locust Valley Cemetery, volunteered as a coach and referee for many years at Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club, as well as serving as Treasurer of its board.
A funeral mass was held Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 10:30 am at St. Dominic’s Chapel, Oyster Bay, NY. If so inclined, contributions may be made to the Fishers Island Fire Department, PO Box 123, Fishers Island, NY 06390 or Walsh Park, PO Box 684, Fishers Island, NY 06390.
