James Charles Griffin

Jim is survived by his wife of 58 years Mary (Collins) Griffin; his children James Griffin Jr., Francis Griffin, Maria Minor and Christina Trayers; his siblings Arthur Griffin and Geraldine Griffin Murray; five grandchildren Colin Minor, Allegra Minor, Claire Griffin, Jack Trayers and Vivienne Trayers, as well as many close friends and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur Griffin and Eleanore (Harms) Griffin and siblings Ann (Griffin) Fitzgerald and Kathleen Griffin.

Jim was born on February 22, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York to Arthur and Eleanore Griffin. After graduating from St John Prep High School in Brooklyn, Jim eagerly set out to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Holy Cross in 1959 with a degree in History. He was an officer in the Navy after graduating from Holy Cross where he attended on a ROTC scholarship, and retired in 1962 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander having traveled the world on destroyers and aircraft carriers and participating in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After retiring from the Navy, Jim moved to Philadelphia to pursue a business degree and started work at First Pennsylvania Bank in new business development. In Philadelphia, Jim met the love of his life, Mary Collins. Jim and Mary married on February 19, 1966 at Annunciation Church in Brookline, PA in what he remembered as the happiest day of his life. Over the next decade, Jim and Mary had four children and Jim had a successful career across states and industries, ultimately retiring as an EVP of Chamberlain Group in 2003.

Jim was a devout Catholic. Jim and Mary co-taught religious education to children in their parishes and facilitated Marriage Encounter weekends. Jim was a world traveler who with Mary visited all corners of the world by land, air and sea. After Jim retired, he volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois and became a fitness enthusiast logging daily walks and trips to the gym. Jim was a supporter of arts and culture with interests spanning the great museums and artists, opera and Broadway.

Jim was deeply committed to his entire family. He loved telling stories and anecdotes of his life growing up in New York, adventures in the Navy and recounting the wild adventures of family vacations.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, April 25th in Blount & Curry Life Event Center, 605 S MacDill Ave Tampa FL 33609. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday, April 26th in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 4518 S Manhattan Ave Tampa FL 33611.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to one of Jim’s preferred charities:

Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School 6400 East Chelsea St. Tampa, Florida 33610

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago 1140 West Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60607

National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul 66 Progress Pkwy. Maryland Heights, MO 63043

The family would like to thank all of the compassionate caregivers at Tampa General Hospital and Pruitt Health North Tampa, especially the nurses, techs and all the staff who listened to his stories and laughed at his jokes. Thank you also to the many, many friends Jim made at Brookdale Bayshore among residents and staff - they made Florida more fun.