Colby Dru Griffin

As the end neared, Colby chose to leave the hospital and finish her time at home. She chose how she lived, and she chose how she would move on. It was classic Colby. She always made her own decisions. The outpouring of love from so many of those who knew her reflects the impact she had on so many lives.

Colby was born Sept. 1,1963 to Russell and Judith Atalski at what was then Orange Memorial Hospital and is now Orlando Health. She was a Florida girl from the start, in love with the outdoors. Her happy place was on the water, fishing and scalloping with her dad and uncles. Childhood birthdays were spent on the beach at Treasure Island. Another love entered her life in 1980 while working at a Baskin Robbins during her junior year at Bishop Moore High School. He was a senior at Colonial High named Mike Griffin. He was smitten at first glance. But Mike’s best friend since 5th grade, Phil Storey, didn’t see a future: “She was a beach girl, a pretty little thing with sun-bleached blond hair. She was way too hot for Mike Griffin.”

Nevertheless, Mike prevailed. The whirlwind romance began with a date at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza. Then came prom, grad night and off to UCF. “I thought she was gorgeous,’’ said Mike. “And she had a way that made you feel special. By the fall, we were locked in.”

Colby started UCF as Colby Atalski and graduated as Colby Griffin. Mike and Colby married in 1985. Less than 2 percent of high school sweethearts end up married. Of those that do, half are divorced within 10-15 years. Against such odds, Colby and Mike were in non-stop love for 41 years. That love brought daughters Rachael and Abby into the world. Through all the changes and successes in their lives, Colby never changed. She could be uproariously funny, maddeningly stubborn, and relentlessly caring. “She took good care of people,’’ said Rachael. “She took care of her parents. She supported my dad. She would send us funny cards and gift baskets to cheer us up when we were down.” There were gifts for the dry cleaners, candied apples for the trash collectors, a BBQ lunch

from 4Rivers for the crew that spent months ripping up the street in front of the Griffin home to install a new city drain system. Everybody got something. And her beloved dog, Ripley, got whatever she wanted. Colby was a strong advocate of fun. Her parties were legendary, be it the classic she put on for Abby’s 16th birthday or her annual Christmas Eve gatherings.

“There were too many friends to count,” said Mike. “It was amazing. If you met Colby, you just wanted to be her friend.’’ Colby had an outsized personality that never strayed from genuine. It was reflected in her trademark laugh – loud, infectious, unpretentious, inviting you to join in. “Oh my God, that laugh,’’ said longtime friend Lisa Cianci. “She just loved having a good time.” Sometimes she dressed to match the laugh. Loud. Bold. Colorful.

“She was confident in who she was and lived the life she wanted to live,” said her daughter, Abby. “She wasn’t bothered by what others thought. It was inspiring.” The UCF Knights were her passion. She oversaw all pre-game tailgating activities. In the stadium, she once startled everyone by imploring her Knights to “Gouge their eyes out!” It soon became the group cheer. On a trip to watch UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, Colby and friends got trapped in a blizzard that shut down the highway. Colby sprang into action. She exited her car and started a snowball fight, her laugh at full throttle. “I remember how full of life she was,” said Lisa.

Lisa last saw that side of Colby on a sea plane flight to the Dry Tortugas in October 2024. Colby was a year into her cancer diagnosis. Her mother, who she meticulously had cared for, had passed away. But the sea Colby loved so much temporarily relieved her of those burdens. “It gave her a break, and she was so happy, flying above the water, laughing and loving life,’’ said Lisa.

That is how Phil Storey remembers her.

“She was funny and sweet. She had this radar and could sense when someone needed something. And she’d get it. “She was authentic. In a world of fake people, she was never fake.”

Colby is survived by her husband, Michael Griffin of Orlando, daughter Rachael Griffin of St. Petersburg; daughter and son-in-law Abby and Owen Reid of Apopka; and her father, Russell Atalski of Maitland.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday May 9 at College Park United Methodist Church in Orlando, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando An Open House will follow at the Griffin home. In lieu of flowers, Colby would have wanted folks to donate to Pet Rescue by Judy (petrescuebyjudy.com) or any pet rescue organization.