SERVICES FOR WILLIAM GRIFF

Received the very sad news that good friend Bill Griff has passed away. 3/27/13

Bill and his side-kick, Petie a.k.a. Monster (the March 2013 Top Dog of the Month http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/03/everything-crotons-top-dog-of-month.html) and your editor here at the blog were coffee buddies at J&J's.  We spent many a morning talking about dogs, cats, politics, and philosophy.  A staunch opponent of deals to keep the troubled waste transfer station Metro-Enviro open--and more recently the Croton Point Avenue Project--Bill was always available to add his keen insight to important issues and offer practical advice. He was a huge proponent of shopping locally and loved Croton's small town character. He will be very much missed.

OBITUARY: At the time of his death, he was working as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York Workers Compensation Board in New York City. Prior to becoming a judge, he worked as a lawyer in White Plains, often defending poor people, especially the elderly and disabled. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 1973 after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in history from Fordham College. In 1996, he received a Masters Degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from New York Medical College. 

Bill had many interests. He loved hiking and spent time exploring the Taconic Mountains, Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, White Mountains of New Hampshire, the 92-mile Wonderland Trail near Mt. Rainer in Washington and the deserts of Utah. He often went with one of his dogs, most recently Monster. Bill loved botany and history, especially related to the civil war.

In recent years, Bill and his friends visited Senegal, West Africa. During one trip, he went to a remote village on the border of Mali and Guinea, where he worked to promote gardens in high schools and the use of solar cookers. He also provided funds that went toward a young Senegalese man’s college education.

He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant from 1967-69.

Bill was predeceased by his parents Martin and Revea Griff. He is survived by his brother Martin, sisters Mary, Carol, Joan and Arlene, and many nephews, nieces, great nieces and nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be 4/3 from 7-9 pm at the Edward F. Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand St., 271-4882; the funeral service will be 4/4 at 10 am in Carter's.