Sly
06-14-2005, 10:48
This is so incredibly tragic.... Annie and Larry not only hiked the AT but, the PCT, JMT, CT and much of the CDT. I don't think I've ever met a kinder, sweeter couple.
Hit-and-run kills popular cyclist
Larry McDuff dies in Fairhope nearly two years after
his wife also killed while riding bike
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
By DAVID FERRARA
Staff Reporter
A hit-and-run driver killed bicyclist and
environmental enthusiast Larry McDuff, 65, as he was
riding in Fairhope on Monday, a little more than two
years after the victim's wife, Ann, was fatally struck
by a motorist while biking.
Larry McDuff was headed south on the western shoulder
of Greeno Road, about 200 yards south of Volanta
Avenue in Fairhope around 8:40 a.m., when he was hit
by a black Jeep Cherokee, according to Fairhope Police
Cpl. Craig Sawyer.
Investigators said they found a slightly damaged 1991
Cherokee parked in a wooded area near Young Street and
Kirkman Lane around 3 p.m. After matching the vehicle
to materials recovered from the crash site, police
said they believe the driver of that SUV struck
McDuff.
About four hours later, the owner of the Jeep came to
Fairhope Police Headquarters with her 17-year-old son
and investigators interviewed him about the collision,
police Cpl. Craig Sawyer said in a news release.
After being questioned, the teenager was released to
his mother's custody "in accordance with established
juvenile procedures" pending a formal charge of felony
leaving the scene of an accident, the release said.
The name of the youth, a Spanish Fort resident, was
withheld because of his juvenile status, Sawyer said.
The Baldwin County District Attorney's Office will
evaluate the case to determine whether he will be
prosecuted as a juvenile or adult, and whether there
will be additional charges, he said.
Investigators believe that when McDuff was hit he was
at least two feet from the closest traffic lane on
Greeno, which is also known as U.S. 98.
Crews had been working on a pedestrian and bicycle
trail on the side of the busy highway, but Sawyer said
McDuff had been riding several feet from the
construction site.
McDuff was wearing a long-sleeve, lime-green
reflective shirt and a helmet when he was clipped by
the vehicle, according to authorities. It was
initially unclear whether McDuff was knocked from his
bicycle or run over, Sawyer said.
A longtime nature lover, gospel musician and
vegetarian, and now-retired salesman, Larry McDuff's
cycling procedures changed dramatically when Ann
McDuff was killed in 2003 while riding on Baldwin
County 27 (now Alabama 181), friends and relatives
said Monday.
He avoided two-lane roads like the rural thoroughfare
on which his wife died. He bought the reflective shirt
that he wore whenever he rode, no matter the hour.
McDuff promoted bicycle safety and awareness
throughout Baldwin County. But he never stopped
pedaling.
"He didn't let fear rule his life," his daughter,
Margaret Lewis of Atlanta, said in a telephone
interview.
Bicycle enthusiast Jim Kellen said he rides regularly
with a group in Mobile.
He cautioned street bikers to travel with others
because a crowd of bicyclists is more visible than a
solo rider and others in the group can warn fellow
riders of the surroundings. But Kellen also urged
motorists to be aware of bicyclists on the road.
After Ann was killed, McDuff and his family said they
forgave the driver, who was not charged. Lewis said
she felt the same about her father's death.
"I know that this accident was a hit and run, but I
feel the same way," Lewis said of Monday's incident.
"My dad would want immediate forgiveness for whoever
was involved."
Mark Johnson regularly played with McDuff in a
bluegrass gospel band and knew him for about 25 years.
"He enjoyed playing that music, and he always made a
joyful noise," Johnson said.
For the majority of his 30-year career, McDuff worked
as a salesman in Mobile for IBM, according to his
daughter. Upon retirement, he took on a less busy
life.
On Monday, McDuff was headed about eight miles to the
Bee Natural Farm just south of Fairhope, where he
worked in exchange for food, according to Phil
Strniste, the farm's owner.
Among many tasks, he would milk goats, feed chickens
and pull weeds, Strniste said. For that, he'd receive
5 pounds of tomatoes, some squash, cucumbers, corn,
bell peppers, apples and lettuce.
Strniste drove McDuff to the hospital the day his wife
was killed. He remembered McDuff saying she "lived a
happy life."
"Outside of Larry missing his wife, which he did
dearly, I think he was the same way," Strniste said.
The couple met at a church camp when Ann was 16 and
Larry was 20. The two fell in love and were married
for 38 years. Throughout their marriage, the couple
grew closer to each other and to nature, Lewis said.
They hiked the Appalachian Trail, they biked
throughout Europe and lived a "minimalists'"
lifestyle.
"I know how very much connected my dad was to my mom,
even after her death," Lewis said. "He was still
married to her in every sense of the word."
McDuff's active spirit enraptured many in the
community where he lived. Christina Speck, a yoga
instructor in Fairhope, taught the McDuffs for several
years.
"He was one of the most wonderful people you can
imagine," Speck said. "Such an inspiration to all of
us how he continued living -- even after Ann died. He
just didn't let life get him down, and always kept up
her memory."
Larry McDuff is survived by his children, Wilson
McDuff of Fairhope; Mallory McDuff of Asheville, N.C.;
Lawrence McDuff of Birmingham; and Lewis of Atlanta;
and seven grandchildren.
A funeral is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne. Visitation was
planned for 1:30 p.m. at the church.
© 2005 The Mobile Register
© 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.
Hit-and-run kills popular cyclist
Larry McDuff dies in Fairhope nearly two years after
his wife also killed while riding bike
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
By DAVID FERRARA
Staff Reporter
A hit-and-run driver killed bicyclist and
environmental enthusiast Larry McDuff, 65, as he was
riding in Fairhope on Monday, a little more than two
years after the victim's wife, Ann, was fatally struck
by a motorist while biking.
Larry McDuff was headed south on the western shoulder
of Greeno Road, about 200 yards south of Volanta
Avenue in Fairhope around 8:40 a.m., when he was hit
by a black Jeep Cherokee, according to Fairhope Police
Cpl. Craig Sawyer.
Investigators said they found a slightly damaged 1991
Cherokee parked in a wooded area near Young Street and
Kirkman Lane around 3 p.m. After matching the vehicle
to materials recovered from the crash site, police
said they believe the driver of that SUV struck
McDuff.
About four hours later, the owner of the Jeep came to
Fairhope Police Headquarters with her 17-year-old son
and investigators interviewed him about the collision,
police Cpl. Craig Sawyer said in a news release.
After being questioned, the teenager was released to
his mother's custody "in accordance with established
juvenile procedures" pending a formal charge of felony
leaving the scene of an accident, the release said.
The name of the youth, a Spanish Fort resident, was
withheld because of his juvenile status, Sawyer said.
The Baldwin County District Attorney's Office will
evaluate the case to determine whether he will be
prosecuted as a juvenile or adult, and whether there
will be additional charges, he said.
Investigators believe that when McDuff was hit he was
at least two feet from the closest traffic lane on
Greeno, which is also known as U.S. 98.
Crews had been working on a pedestrian and bicycle
trail on the side of the busy highway, but Sawyer said
McDuff had been riding several feet from the
construction site.
McDuff was wearing a long-sleeve, lime-green
reflective shirt and a helmet when he was clipped by
the vehicle, according to authorities. It was
initially unclear whether McDuff was knocked from his
bicycle or run over, Sawyer said.
A longtime nature lover, gospel musician and
vegetarian, and now-retired salesman, Larry McDuff's
cycling procedures changed dramatically when Ann
McDuff was killed in 2003 while riding on Baldwin
County 27 (now Alabama 181), friends and relatives
said Monday.
He avoided two-lane roads like the rural thoroughfare
on which his wife died. He bought the reflective shirt
that he wore whenever he rode, no matter the hour.
McDuff promoted bicycle safety and awareness
throughout Baldwin County. But he never stopped
pedaling.
"He didn't let fear rule his life," his daughter,
Margaret Lewis of Atlanta, said in a telephone
interview.
Bicycle enthusiast Jim Kellen said he rides regularly
with a group in Mobile.
He cautioned street bikers to travel with others
because a crowd of bicyclists is more visible than a
solo rider and others in the group can warn fellow
riders of the surroundings. But Kellen also urged
motorists to be aware of bicyclists on the road.
After Ann was killed, McDuff and his family said they
forgave the driver, who was not charged. Lewis said
she felt the same about her father's death.
"I know that this accident was a hit and run, but I
feel the same way," Lewis said of Monday's incident.
"My dad would want immediate forgiveness for whoever
was involved."
Mark Johnson regularly played with McDuff in a
bluegrass gospel band and knew him for about 25 years.
"He enjoyed playing that music, and he always made a
joyful noise," Johnson said.
For the majority of his 30-year career, McDuff worked
as a salesman in Mobile for IBM, according to his
daughter. Upon retirement, he took on a less busy
life.
On Monday, McDuff was headed about eight miles to the
Bee Natural Farm just south of Fairhope, where he
worked in exchange for food, according to Phil
Strniste, the farm's owner.
Among many tasks, he would milk goats, feed chickens
and pull weeds, Strniste said. For that, he'd receive
5 pounds of tomatoes, some squash, cucumbers, corn,
bell peppers, apples and lettuce.
Strniste drove McDuff to the hospital the day his wife
was killed. He remembered McDuff saying she "lived a
happy life."
"Outside of Larry missing his wife, which he did
dearly, I think he was the same way," Strniste said.
The couple met at a church camp when Ann was 16 and
Larry was 20. The two fell in love and were married
for 38 years. Throughout their marriage, the couple
grew closer to each other and to nature, Lewis said.
They hiked the Appalachian Trail, they biked
throughout Europe and lived a "minimalists'"
lifestyle.
"I know how very much connected my dad was to my mom,
even after her death," Lewis said. "He was still
married to her in every sense of the word."
McDuff's active spirit enraptured many in the
community where he lived. Christina Speck, a yoga
instructor in Fairhope, taught the McDuffs for several
years.
"He was one of the most wonderful people you can
imagine," Speck said. "Such an inspiration to all of
us how he continued living -- even after Ann died. He
just didn't let life get him down, and always kept up
her memory."
Larry McDuff is survived by his children, Wilson
McDuff of Fairhope; Mallory McDuff of Asheville, N.C.;
Lawrence McDuff of Birmingham; and Lewis of Atlanta;
and seven grandchildren.
A funeral is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne. Visitation was
planned for 1:30 p.m. at the church.
© 2005 The Mobile Register
© 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.