Richard A. Griffo

Richard Anthony Griffo, 83, of New Smyrna Beach, FL passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 27, 2015. Richard was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 11, 1932, and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge. He honorably served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Following his service, Richard attended night school at St. John's University, where he met his future wife, Patricia Ann Rooney, in history class. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 while employed by the Western Union Telegraph Company, where he worked for more than thirty years. Before retiring to Volusia County in 1994, he thrived in his second career as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the Clinton Township School District in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Richard was a member of the St. John's University Alumni Association and the American Legion, Fort Hamilton Memorial Post.

Known as Richie, he is survived by his devoted wife of fifty years, Patricia, of New Smyrna Beach; his daughter Mary Jolley and her husband Tim, and his beloved grandchildren, Sean Richard, Matthew Douglas, and Samantha Elizabeth, all of New Smyrna Beach along with his dear nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins, including Renold Capocasale of North Wales, Pennsylvania, who was like a brother to him. Preceding him to heaven were his dear son, Richard Anthony Griffo, Jr., his parents, Felice and Letizia Griffo, his sisters, Mary, Lillian, and Josephine, and his two brothers, William and Arthur. Richie devoted his life to his family, and during his twenty years of retirement, he doted on his three grandchildren, who adored their "Ga,"; he enjoyed making pasta and baking breads and scones, which he would often to deliver to family and friends. Richie touched so many lives with his kindness and warm heart; he will be missed every day. The family thanks the staff on his wing at Indigo Manor Rehabilitation Center for their tremendous care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in his memory to VITAS Hospice Community Connection, 575 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 or the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania P. O. Box 15, Strasburg, PA 17579. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at Settle Wilder Funeral Home 406 S. Orange Street, New Smyrna Beach. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m., Friday October 2, 2015 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church 4000 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL. Burial in Deltona Memorial Gardens will follow. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.volusiamemorialfuneral.com