WJ Dufresne Obituary

Hi guys, miss you all
Duke asked me to clear the wood line last year, I asked why? He replied to see what's beyond while walking in his yellow slippers. We used the Lionel set the other night. Thank you for your kindness. We love you

I worked with Duke at Tufts Health Plan. He was a soft spoken person whose drive to ensure the best access to care and resources were readily available to the mass health community was palpable.
He was a great physician, leader, and mentor who treated everyone with care and respect.
I´m sorry for your loss. He was a fantastic man.

I worked with Duke at CDPHP where he was one of our medical directors. He was a very knowledgeable physician and shared his knowledge with the nurses, focused on the person first and was always willing to help. He was down to earth and very approachable.

Duke was a friend and workout partner of my Brother Mike Mortensen when the Dufresne lived in Glenville IN 1992 my mother was having health problems and mike called Duke and he said bring her right to St Clairs as soon as she got there Duke took over her case in the ER and you would have thought it was a Hollywood celebrity he found the problem right away we lost her 5 days later to a brain tumor.Duke treated Her and us like family I will always remember him and will be forever greatful.MY heartfelt condolences to betty and all the family,Jack Mortensen

My sincere condolences to all who loved Dr. Dufresne. "Duke" was someone I had the pleasure to work with at Tufts Health Plan. He was so congenial and kind, wise and knowledgeable. Love this photo! It makes me smile. Marie Cunningham

I was shocked to hear of Duke's passing. My condolences to you all. I worked with Duke, first at United HealthCare many years ago and most recently at Tufts Health Plan/Point32Health. He was one of the nicest people and most approachable doctors I have ever worked with. He will be missed.

Sending my deepest condolences to his family. He was my Dr. at St. Clair´s. Great man.

For everyone who is as shocked and saddened as we are for the seemingly sudden loss of Bill, please find peace in hearing about how beautiful his final time here with us was spent.

Bill´s days in hospice care at home were blessedly few which he savored with his family, especially his grandchildren who brought him immense joy. The team that cared for him could not have been more humane nor more attentive to the needs of him and his family. They got to know Bill when they first arrived and enjoyed his wit and humor. They grieved along with his family for their own loss of this special man they´d come to know and admire as his health deteriorated.

He left us at the only time when his wife, three children, his remaining brother, and his sister were able to be together by his side. It´s uncanny really that this would be the moment, almost as if it had been orchestrated this way by Bill himself.

His family chose an outfit he would wear to his last destination that was the perfect combination of comfort and flare that those who knew him came to expect. Bill carried nothing but a Charleston Chew that was placed in his pocket from the supply of them he had ordered just a few days prior.

The team that came to escort Bill were respectful and kind. It was late at night, so the residential neighborhood of tree lined streets were quiet and dark with no other pedestrians nor traffic in sight as they carried Bill to their vehicle. The driver asked us to choose a favorite song of Bill´s and was informed of anything by Pentatonix. The windows were open with the volume turned up, and as they drove slowly away for Bill´s last time down his street and then turned the corner, we could still hear the music, loudly at first, and then slowly fading away until it became dark and quiet once more.

"Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains
Within the sound of, silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of the streetlamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed
By the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound
Of silence"

Rest In Peace Brother
Rest In Peace Husband, Father, Grandfather, Relative, Friend, Coworker, Physician, Humanitarian

So sorry for your loss. Really enjoyed working with Duke many years ago at Martin´s Point in Portland, ME. What a tremendous impact he has had on thousands of patients and members.

To the Family of Dr Dufresne,

Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. As a physician recruiter representing many companies, I had the pleasure of working with him in Schenectady County. Dr D. was truly a man of integrity, dedication, and professionalism.

My deepest sympathies,
MariAgnes Malkonian

I worked with Duke for many years at Tufts Health Plan. I will never forget singing Duke of Earl and dancing with him in the lobby. What an AMAZING man. I am very privileged in the fact that he touched my world and completely honored that he was not only a colleague and mentor but a friend. I will always remember the added twinkle in his eyes when talking about his grandchildren. My sympathies and thoughts to his family.

I worked at St. Clares Hospital in Schenectady when Dr. D was a resident, one of the best and became my doctor. He assisted my husband and I through a difficult pregnancy guiding us to make the best choices. My son is now a healthy 28 year old Drill Sergeant. You will be missed greatly by so many Dr. Duke. Rest on...

He will be greatly missed. He was an inspiration at Tuft's Health Plan. Enjoyed knowing and working with him

I worked with Dr. Dufresne at CDPHP. He was a wonderful coworker and I'm so sorry for your loss. Rest easy my friend.

Dear Dufresne Family:

I worked with Duke for a number of years at Tufts Health Plan. I will always remember his kindness, extensive knowledge and his love for people, especially his family. He was a wonderful physician and advocate and will be missed.

I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Please accept my sincere condolences and deepest sympathies.

Duke was one of the warmest, kindest, compassionate and knowledgeable physicians I have ever known. He was candid and genuine, honest and approachable. I worked with Duke at Tufts Health Plan and miss him dearly. My heartfelt condolences to everyone in his family. Godspeed, Duke.

Dear Dufresne Family:
Dr Duke was the gold standard of healthcare providers. I have never met anyone that had such true compassion and empathy for every single member he served and every provider he encountered and naturally taught. Healthcare is better because of his touch and his ways. He was so down to earth, peaceful, wise and such a natural mentor to many. He will be greatly missed

I´ll always remember Duke´s tremendous theatrical talents as the dubious doctor whose main role in the semi-annual `Revels´ show at the Unitarian Society Schenectady was showering the audience with `Pills´ (marshmallows) that could cure any ailment !!! I wish I could throw some his way!

Dear Mrs. Dufresne and Family,
I have happy memories of working with Duke while he was at Martin's Point in Maine. His professionalism, integrity and wonderful sense of humor made him a joy to work with. He also took on and won the challenge to make MLK an honored holiday at MP. Sincere condolences to you and family. Sincerely, Carole Kennally, RN

Betty,
I am very sorry to hear about Duke´s passing and will always remember him in his humorous role in UUSS´ Revels.

Was with Duke at UMass/Boston and since then.he was wicked smart and a great exemplar for me

Dear Duke's Family (Betty)
I worked with Duke for 10 years at Tufts we started at the same time. I loved him. He was the most genuine , kind , empathetic doctor I have ever worked with being a nurse I've worked with lots of Dr's. He was one of a kind
I learned so much from him. I'm so so sorry Betty he told me so many lovely things about you and his sons. He was so happy to be a grandpa too !! He just had the most beautiful soul and was very funny too. I will miss him but remember his smiling face. He was the best and he made me a better nurse with all the knowledge he shared with us all at THP God bless you all
Love Darlene Waters D'India

I worked with Duke at Tufts Health plan. He is one of the most kindest, compassionate, and intelligent person I have met. When I first started we were in the Medford office. What I remember fondly is that every Friday at 4 pm Duke would walk around with his bubble. he would go to every employees desk and blow them bubbles. He would say that no matter how hard our week may have been to know that our troubles are like the bubble he blew the will go away and dissipate. He was a advocate for our members and a teacher to his coworkers. I am honored to have worked with such a wonderful person. My thought and prayer are now with his family in this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

I worked closely with Duke at Network Health/Tufts Health Plan. He was such a kind person. He was a great advocate for our members and he respected the nurses he worked with. When we were in the Medford office, every Friday, Duke would go around with his bubbles and blow them at every employees desk. He would say may your troubles be like these bubbles and float away and dissipate. He made such a huge impact on so many of his coworkers lives. He will be greatly missed! My prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

Duke was one of the most selfless and giving humans I´ve ever had the honor to know. He glowed when he talked about his family and at the same time treated everyone lucky enough to know him, like family. He was so willing to share his knowledge and wisdom even during incredibly stressful times. He left an imprint in my heart that will never be replaced. "Bubble Up" my friends. I will think of you every time I hear that song

I worked with Duke at Tufts Health Plan and he was such a joy to work with. I miss his knowledge and expertise in the Medicaid space, but more importantly he was so approachable and had a wonderful sense of humor. My condolences to the family.