Christopher Thomas "Puddy" Duffy lived a spirited and outgoing life and had a special love for teaching and coaching kids' baseball and wrestling. Chris could always be found at the ballpark – hitting grounders, pitching batting practice, teaching the skills of the game or preparing the field for play. After asking his father about the donor designation on his driver's license, Chris decided to register but did not have the chance to do so before a brain aneurysm took his life. When his parents were asked about donating his organs, they already knew the answer. Chris's corneas gave sight to two women, and his tissue healed 45 others.

Christopher's Story

Christopher Thomas "Puddy" Duffy lived a spirited and outgoing life and had a special love for teaching and coaching kids' baseball and wrestling. He dedicated most of his time and energy to coaching Little League and AAA baseball. If you needed to find Chris you would always know where to find him: at the ball park – hitting grounders, pitching batting practice, teaching the skills of the game or preparing the field for play.

One day Chris asked his father, Paul, about the donor designation on his driver's license. He planned to register himself when it was time to renew his license, but he never got the chance to do so. A brain aneurysm suddenly took his life at age 35. When his parents, Paul and Sandy, were asked about donating his organs and tissue, they had no hesitation about donating.

The New England Eye and Tissue Transplant Bank (TBI-Boston) was able to recover Chris' corneas and skin tissue. His corneas restored the sight to two women aged 37 and 73. His skin tissue was used in helping those with burns, with spinal fusions, and oral surgeries. If fact, Chris's donations resulted in surgeries that enhanced the lives of 45 individuals in 13 states, as well as a medical facility in Barcelona, Spain, a country in which Chris had wrestled and was a favorite destination.

Due to Chris' commitment and impact on those he coached in his community, a Chris Duffy "Field of Dreams" was built in his honor. In addition, the Chris Duffy Memorial Scholarship was established to recognize a Braintree High School baseball player with outstanding ability and leadership both on and off the field.

Chris's parents have been active volunteers across New England promoting the gift of life. Sandy is an Ambassador to the Register of Motor Vehicles in Braintree and serves on the Advisory Council on Organ & Tissue Transplants for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was also instrumental in having the Donate Life Flag presented at the Braintree Town Hall during the month of April.

Chris's father, Paul, passed away on April 30, 2013, and all who knew Paul and Chris know they are playing catch on their Field of Dreams today.