Vincent William Griffis

Griffis, Vincent William

Vincent William Griffis, 67, of Swansea, MA, entered his heavenly home on Saturday, September 27, 2014. He was the husband of 45 years to Suzanne Kathy (Sisson) Griffis. Vince was born on August 14, 1947 in Binghamton, NY. Vince was a lifelong student who loved learning. He graduated from Johnson City High School in 1964, then Practical Bible Training School (now Davis College) in 1967, and received his B.A. from Calvary Bible College in 1968. He went on to earn his M.A. from Rhode Island College in 1974, his M.B.A. from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1987, and his Ed.D. from Boston University in 2011. Vince met Susie when they were freshmen together at Practical, and they were married on January 24, 1969. They moved to New England later that year when Vince began teaching at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf. In 1974 Vince became the headmaster of the Christian School of Greater Fall River where he led for fourteen years, during which time their four children were born. Vince and Susie joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1988 and the family spent a year in both Dallas, TX and Quebec City, QC before moving to Yaounde, Cameroon. There Vince established Rain Forest International School, a Christian secondary school for children in the missionary, greater expatriate and national communities of West Africa. Vince and Susie remained at RFIS for sixteen years, eventually returning to Swansea in 2007 so that Vince could be near Boston for cancer treatment. Vince was a devoted follower of Christ and student of the Word. He led a life of faith and commitment to the Lord. To his students, to the faculty who served under him, to his Wycliffe colleagues, and to the family of believers at Bethany Gospel Chapel, Vince is remembered as a teacher and mentor who was also a humble and enduring friend. He leaves a legacy of wisdom, integrity, compassion and humor. He will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched. He is survived by his wife, Susie; son, Aron and his wife Amy; son, Andrew and his wife Cristin with their boys Vincent and Eli; daughter, Abigail and her husband Daniel with their boys Caleb and Luke; and son Adam. Vince's memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 4, at 3 p.m. at Bethany Gospel Chapel, 62 Lindsey Lane, Swansea, MA. Relatives and friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Vincent Griffis Memorial Fund at Davis College, 400 Riverside Dr., Johnson City, NY 13790.