Camden Obituary: Duffy Marie Aliturki

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Camden New Journal - OBITUARY
Published: 4 June 2009

Duffy Marie Aliturki

‘Give me a room full of strangers and a G&T’

DUFFY Marie Aliturki, a popular face in Primrose Hill and Chalk Farm who has died aged 65, was known for her ability to turn her hand to anything and for making friends that stuck.
Born into a modest background in Bognor Regis, Ms Aliturki led an extraordinary life that saw her swing jobs in scientific research, interior design, a silversmiths and top secretarial posts including working for the boss of the Times newspaper group.
More than 50 people, most friends who had met her in pubs near her home in Hartland Road, Chalk Farm, attended her funeral at Our Lady of Hal in Camden Town.
Her ex-husband, Peter White, said: “She loved pubs – I think she thought they were the centre of society. She loved talking to people and she would stay friends with the people she met.
“She used to say to me that the happiest thing in her life she could imagine would be standing at a doorway looking into a room of 50 strangers with a gin and tonic in one hand and a cigarette in the other – and stepping in. All those new people!”
He added: “To me that’s probably an idea of one of the worst things that could happen – but that’s the difference between most people and Duffy.”
It was while making friends in a pub off Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, in 1978 that Ms Aliturki experienced a life-changing moment. A gunman from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation opened fire on an Israeli coach – before turning his machine gun on the pub.
Mr White said: “She was hit in the thigh. She told me that as she lay bleeding on the floor she said she thought she had better take note of what was happening because she was likely to be asked in quite some detail about this. The policeman said he wished every witness was like Duffy.”
He added: “I think that shooting made her stop and examine her life.”
Mr White’s home in Princess Road, Primrose Hill, was furnished and re-decorated by Ms Aliturki. She tiled the bathroom and replaced picture frames, despite having no proper training.
He said: “The thing that impressed me the most was that she would attempt anything. And she always looked a million dollars – and it was all from Oxfam.”
TOM FOOT

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