Clear, 68° F
(Aug. 30, 2008)
Former Powell resident Adolph Michael (Duffy) Olveda, 74, died at his home in Marrero, La., on Aug. 30 from lung cancer.In a 1971 plutonium laboratory near Denver, he became a nuclear age statistic when he inhaled more radiation than anyone in history after a nuclear accident.
He was born in Powell March 19, 1934, to Aurelia and Jesus Olveda. Duffy attended Powell schools and graduated from Powell High School in 1953.
He served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a Past Commander of the Powell VFW Post 5054 and a member of VFW Post 7307 in Marrero, La.
After the 1971 nuclear accident, Duffy returned to Powell and attended Northwest College. For several years, he was an assistant Girl Scout Leader to Troop 64, helping his sister, Sally Montoya.
In 1981, he moved to Louisiana and married Mary McDonald, formerly of Powell. He helped raise her three daughters. Their pride and joy was raising a grandson, Dustin Martin, as their own son.
The family survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005, though forced to evacuate to Texas for two weeks. Because the New Orleans area was evacuated again early this month during Hurricane Gustav, Duffy was not cremated until Sept. 11.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 27 years, Mary; son, Dustin Martin; daughters, Wendy Barrilleaux, Ellen Trahan and Cindy Martin; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Manuel Olveda of Powell; sister, Sally Montoya of Powell; and a sister, Eve, of Santa Monica, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Jerilynn Barrilleaux; and a favorite niece, Patricia Montoya Peterson.
He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
