Nancy Anne Griffin

In some ways we just had to laugh…leave it up to our brilliant, gorgeous Nancy to make her exit just about the same time as two other greats, John McCain and Neil Simon. Never one to suffer fools lightly, we’re sure she chose her passing wisely. Why stand “in line” waiting your turn at the gates with anyone less thrilling and entertaining then these two fine gentlemen?

Nancy Anne (Weeks) Griffin was a wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, SRHS song leader, loyal friend, Wright Elementary School teacher and yet so much more. Nancy was born in Evanston, Illinois on April 15, 1937 to Anson (“Dancing With Anson”) Weeks-Bandleader, and Viola Weeks. Many of you reading this may already have some memories of Nancy but if you didn’t know her try picturing this: Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore in the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Jane Goodall, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, and Teacher of the Year all rolled into one. Nancy was smart, funny and yet a bit sweetly naive like Laura. Independent and spunky, she could turn the world on with her dazzling smile much like working girl Mary. Like Jane, she was inquisitive and a lifelong learner and observer of life and wildlife. Like Babe, an avid sports fan and a bit of “jock” herself. Maybe most of all she was Teacher— her love of children was such a defining attribute of her personality. This simplifies the tremendous woman that Nancy was; she loved living and she loved the human race in all its colors. She was an “Educator” who managed to subtly lead people toward awareness and new experiences in a gentle way. Her enthusiasm and constant good nature took people along for the ride of learning. As her grandchildren recently said, “Grandma was the most intelligent woman we’ve ever known. She introduced us to things and places and little did we know that she was trying to teach us at the same time…we thought that we were just having fun!”

Nancy believed in service to others and by doing so she would leave the world a better place. For years she drove cancer patients to their doctor’s appointments, she volunteered at Wright School after her retirement and more recently she volunteered at Yulupa School where her great-granddaughters attended classes. She formerly worked at the Welfare League Thrift Store and served as a board member. During national elections she proudly served as a pollster. She also sat on the SRHS Foundation alumni board for several years helping fundraise for future SRHS students. Nancy remarked many times how much she loved high school and how in some ways they were some of the happiest times of her life. Up until recently she was still hanging out with the other “Queens” of campus (you all know who you are!). Nancy donated to multiple causes that were dear to her heart, many aimed toward the environment and Democratic causes.

“There is no greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.” Sister Mary Rose Geady, children’s advocate.

Nancy was never one to keep score or “one up” someone; she celebrated others achievements and mourned their losses right along with them. Nancy was “The Vault”—a secret told to her was a secret kept. She was a Renaissance woman—she knitted beautifully, sewed exceptionally well, cooked and gardened like a pro. She loved English novels, PBS mysteries, traveling and exploring various countries with her husband, Herman and she even traveled to China with her sister Sally and climbed part of the Great Wall a few years ago.

Nancy leaves behind her SRHS sweetheart class of ’55 Herman Griffin. They celebrated 62 years of marriage in August. Also daughters Ganeen Vega (Hector), Colleen Wilson (Mark) and grandchildren Marcos Vega (DeeDee) and Alicia

Castro (James). Great grandchildren Ramon, Alex, Mario, Elliana, Isabella and Araya. Sister Sally Weeks-Gard plus numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded by sister Peggy and brothers James and Jack Weeks. Special thanks go to Shirley, Virginia, Karla and Dolores for all the tender care given to Nancy during her last few months.

Nancy hated funerals—we think it was the morbid drama. She had no patience for what she perceived as a narrow last view of a person’s rich and full life. She refused to allow death’s last image to define a person’s entirety so would usually refuse to attend such services. She could however, embrace a really great party complete with champagne (her favorite), yummy food, good conversation and laughs with family and friends. So with that we invite those who knew and loved Nancy Griffin to a party, a celebration to remember and reminisce about a remarkable woman whom we loved well. Please join the Griffin Family at Legends at Bennett Valley Golf Course on October 13th starting at 11:30 am. We request all attending to RSVP to 707-542-0228 prior to October 5th.

“Literally thousands of wonderful friends have accompanied me in life, and many now await me in the secret eternity to come. I have enjoyed the long voyage.”

-Ansel Adams

Donations in Nancy’s honor can be made to Wright Elementary School Foundation, SRHS Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association or Heartland Hospice.