Gregory Charles Giffin

Gregory Charles Giffin, 74, of St. James, NC passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. Born April 2, 1951 in Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Ralph and Helen (Sandy) Giffin. He was also predeceased by his brother, Ralph Giffin, III. Greg’s grandfather and father worked in the Lowell, MA textile mills while Greg grew up roaming his friends’ family farms and apple orchards in Dracut and Oxford, Massachusetts. He attended Oxford Memorial High School, playing on the football team, singing and playing guitar in his band “The Rogues” that he formed with friends, and being elected to student government. Greg attended University of Massachusetts at Amherst, earning a Bachelor’s of Engineering which he followed with a Master’s of Engineering from the University of Delaware. He spent his entire career working for what was Exxon Corporation, then Exxon Mobil, and retired from Infineum International, LTD, which is a joint venture between Exxon Mobil and Shell. He travelled worldwide to plants and research centers and his friendly manner paired with his technical expertise made him a great ambassador. He met his wife, Lorraine, in her first engineering assignment with Exxon Chemicals, in 1977.

Greg and Lorraine raised two children in Martinsville, NJ. Louise found an academic mentor and life coach in her father. His love of music inspired her to become a wonderful pianist and flutist. Working alongside his father Neil learned to use tools and to troubleshoot and fix all kinds of mechanical problems. He also gained a lifelong love of fishing and both kids remember many outings on the boat with their dad. Greg took the family hiking, skiing, kayaking and snorkeling on vacations to places that were off the beaten path. Fondest memories are Christmas visits to Grandma and Grandpas’ big house in Wayne, Maine, where the Christmas tree was cut from the back woods. There were wood burning stoves, snowmobiles ready in the shed, a trout stream out back, and skating on the pond. Sunday River, Maine was a favorite ski destination, and Greg rarely declined requests from his kids to join them even on the toughest double black diamond trails bearing names such as “Agony” or “White Heat”. Summertime vacation was spent swimming or paddling, and fishing in the lake down the road. Greg and Lorraine retired to St James in 2011 because the area provided year- round golf, which Greg loved and avidly pursued during his time here. He only rarely participated in tournaments, and only for charity, preferring to enjoy rounds with close friends. In St James he was able to eschew the busy travel and work life of the northeast and pass many beautiful days golfing, reading, working in the yard, or repairing something at his attic or garage workbench.

He is survived and very much loved by his wife of 42 years, Lorraine Giffin; a daughter, Louise Giffin and her husband, Nikolas Stasulli, and their children, Breck Stasulli and Reid Stasulli; and a son, Neil Giffin and his wife, Molly Giffin. He will also be very much missed by Lorraine's brother and sisters and their spouses in Connecticut, and his nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be announced in the future.

Memorial donations may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital or Pinetree Camp For Handicapped Children, Rome, Maine.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.