Age 28. 219 South Street, Jamaica Plain (Boston), MA. Born 10/01/1914, in Boston. Died of burns (death certificate). Private stenographer in the Boston office, Travelers Insurance Co., of Hartford, CT. Companion (or companions) at the club unknown. Her remains were identified at Northern Mortuary in Boston. Was engaged, fiancé Richard Nolan, age 28 (Born 6/12/1914. Died 1/13/1969, Elyria, OH, age 54), of Chester, PA, was in Pennsylvania at the time of the blaze. Known details were shared by her fiancé in an interview with the 11/30/1942 Chester Times, Chester, PA. Latter (quote): "The Cocoanut Grove was one of our favorite amusement places, and Rita and I went there on at least 50 different occasions. We were last there three weeks ago when I came in from a job in Chicago..." Claimed Miss Duffley and her girl friends made a practice of stopping at the club after seeing shows and believed that is how she met death. Added: "She was a rabid football fan and I think she may have attended the Boston College-Holy Cross game on Saturday afternoon..." Couple was engaged three years at the time of the blaze. "They would have been married before, Nolan said, except for the fact that he was constantly being shifted around the country in construction work..." (Chester Times, 11/30/1942). Was raised in Roxbury (Boston), MA. Made posthumous fire news in August 1945: "Workmen who are tearing down the ruins of the Cocoanut Grove...today recovered...a wallet which bore the name of Rita M. Duffley...It contained charge account cards and an accident insurance card" (The Boston Evening Globe, 8/02/1945). Also: "It was identified this afternoon by her mother..." Parents Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. and Catherine M. (MacPherson) Duffley, same address. Burial at New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan (Boston), MA.

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