Per Mar Security Services’ Chairman of the Board Michael L. Duffy passes away

DAVENPORT, Iowa—Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients in the Midwestern United States, has announced the passing of Chairman of the Board Michael L. Duffy on Jan. 21, 2022. He was 71.

Duffy’s parents, John and Eleanor Duffy, founded Per Mar Security Services in 1953 in Davenport, Iowa. The company was originally chartered as a security and investigative business that started out in Michael’s parents’ house.

In the early years, Michael held various positions at Per Mar including Dispatch Supervisor, Alarm Manager, Vice President of Operations, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, President and CEO. During his term of leadership, the company completed more than 80 acquisitions of life safety companies, eventually becoming the largest family-owned full-service security provider in the Midwest while also operating one of the largest fire alarm sales and service companies in the country, Midwest Alarm Services.  

To this day, Per Mar is family owned and operated by the Duffy family, led by his son, President and CEO Brian Duffy, a member of the Security Systems News “40 under 40” Class of 2015. Another of Michael’s sons, Brad, also works for Per Mar as President of the Security Officer Division. 

“My father had a very outsized positive impact on many people, and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard secondhand stories of his private acts of kindness,” Brian Duffy told Security Systems News. “He certainly loved Per Mar and loved to see the people here grow with the company. Both Per Mar and all of my siblings could not have hoped for a better team than my mother and father. They have prepared us to try to fill their shoes both as parents and business partners. Words cannot begin to do justice to the person he was.”

Michael was a licensed private detective in seven states and held the level of U.S. Government Secret Clearance, in addition to being involved in many boards and committees within the industry.  

“We could not have asked for a better leader or friend than Mike,” the company said in announcing Michael’s passing. “He was a man of great faith, a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and an incredible leader in our company, community and security industry. Mike didn’t know a stranger and always treated others with kindness and respect. He had an incredibly positive impact on the world, and it will live on through the many people he loved, and who loved him.”

In addition to his wife Linda, Michael is survived by six children, 31 grandchildren, one brother and one sister. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Ben, and his grandson, Louie. According to Per Mar, Michael shared a special relationship with Ben, which was made more beautiful by his passing a year to the day after Ben’s death.