Raymond Jerome Griffin Jr., 81, of Raleigh, North Carolina, died of complications with pneumonia October 22, 2007. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Jacqueline (Smith) Griffin last May 27, 2006.
Born September 21, 1926 in Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of the late Raymond J. Griffin and Mary Elizabeth McCullough, he graduated from Lynn English High School, and from Merrimack College, North Andover, in 1951 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He was among the first graduating class of this Catholic college founded by the Order of St. Augustine. Founded in 1947 as a direct response to the needs and aspirations of the local G.I.’s returning home from World War II, Merrimack College now ranks as one of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2008 rankings of colleges nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served in World War II, and later a veteran of the Korean War, he served many years in the Marine reserves before retiring at the rank of Major. His uniform will be dedicated to the Fort Taber Military Museum in New Bedford.
Mr. Griffin lived with his family in New Bedford for many years, while employed at the former Star Store and the New Bedford Standard-Times. He later worked in New Hampshire and Vermont, before retiring to Florida and North Carolina.
Survivors include his seven children, M.E.G. Roy of Minneapolis, MN, Teresa A. Griffin of Raleigh, Catherine M. (Griffin) Franceschi of Brockton, Margaret E. Griffin of San Francisco, CA, Brigid P. (Griffin) Duffy of Lynn, Alexandra S. (Griffin) Merrill of Newport, NH, and Raymond J. Griffin III of Londonderry, NH; and 11 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held in his honor Tuesday evening, November 20 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m.,Wednesday, November 21 at St. Lawrence Church, New Bedford, followed by burial with military honors at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the McQuade Library at Merrimack College via the Office of Institutional Advancement, Austin Hall, Box A-8, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.