University Times

Kenneth G. Duff, a staff member in biostatistics at the Graduate School of Public Health, died Feb. 25, 2008, following a two-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 44.

Duff earned a BS in computer science from Pitt in 1986. Following graduation he was hired as a computer programmer at Pitt’s National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP).

In 1989, he left the University to become a contractor in the private sector, returning to NSABP two years later.

He had served as a programmer IV at NSABP since 2001.

Darlene Kiniry, manager of application programming at NSABP and Duff’s supervisor for several years, described him as a private person, but not necessarily quiet. “Ken was extremely thorough and his work reflected that thoroughness and preciseness,” Kiniry said. “He had to work with a variety of people, with statisticians and data managers and in our quality assurance area. He was more than a computer programmer; he analyzed systems and wrote software, for example, developing financial disbursement software in our operations center.”

Kiniry said Duff had a strong interest in politics. “He added a little spice to our lives with his comments about the local and national political quality,” she said. “He also was dedicated to his family.”

Duff is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his children, Jamie, Ryan and Jason; his father, Gary Duff; his mother, Shirley Brinker; his grandparents, Howard and Edith Duff of Export; a sister, Connie Nelson, and a brother, Steve Duff.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 400 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 524, Pittsburgh 15235.

—Peter Hart