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Luke Griffin Obituary

GRIFFIN, Luke A. Sr.

Of Wellesley, died on April 1, 2023 after a long period of declining
health. He was 74.

Born in Woburn to the late Stephen and Helen Griffin, he grew up in
Winchester. He attended Belmont Hill School, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, and received his Master's degree from Boston University. Luke was an avid fan of all Boston sports. After graduating, he was able to pursue a career that aligned with his passion, working in sports radio at WCCM in Lawrence. It was there he met the love of his life Barbara, and they married in 1972. Shortly after, they moved to Iceland, where he was stationed at the Keflavik Naval Air Base and worked as a sports broadcaster. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He went on to have a successful career at Mutual Broadcasting, WFAN in New York, and finally with the Red Sox Radio Network in Boston. His work allowed him to travel all over the country and the world, where he covered the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics, several Super Bowls, college bowl games and PGA tournaments.

During 35 years of marriage, Luke and Barbara enjoyed raising their five children, traveling, and making lifelong friends in all the places they lived. The loss of Barbara in 2007 to Lymphoma had a tremendous impact on him. He devoted much of his energy since then to support the Lymphoma Research Foundation, through proceeds he received from eBay sales of his sports memorabilia collection.

Luke made Wellesley his home for the past 25 years. He was active in the community of St. Paul's Church, where he regularly served as a Eucharistic Minister. He would also be seen frequently at the Post Office, or walking his best pal, Ernie the pug, around town. After retiring from broadcasting, he enjoyed working as a counselor at Hurley House in Waltham.

Luke was the devoted father of Stephen and his wife Julie of Wellesley, Luke, Jr. of San Diego, James and his partner Margaret Farmer of Red Hook, NY, Amy and her partner Eszter Hamori of Jamaica Plain, and Allison of Wellesley. He was a loving Grampy to granddaughters, Jacklyn and Reagan of Wellesley. He is also survived by his sister-in law, Audrey Meikle, and her husband, Robert of North Andover; and brothers-in-law, Ronald of North Andover, as well as Stephen and his wife Raquel of Pembroke Pines, FL. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., WELLESLEY, on Tuesday, April 4, from 4-8pm. Funeral from the funeral home on Wednesday, April 5, at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul Church, Wellesley at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley. Expressions of sympathy can be made in Luke's name to Lymphoma Research Foundation, Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, #2400, New York, NY 10005 or Lymphoma.org For online guestbook, gfdoherty.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Apr. 2 to Apr. 3, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Luke Griffin

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6 Entries

Don Francis

March 28, 2024

Great Friend @ Notre Dame. positive person with a happy disposition & always up for a good time. kept in touch @ ND reunions. Enjoyed concerts @ South Bend from tickets he got from ND radio station while students. (Linda Ronstadt, James Brown)

John Lamphiear

May 17, 2023

Luke Griffin 1972 Keflavik Iceland...at his desk in the quonset hut offices of American Forces Radio TV and News. Luke was right out of Notre Dame and I was right out of Brigham Young and together--along with a couple of other Navy guys like Bill Ordine and Gerard Campbell--produced the White Falcon newspaper for the NATO base. I had never met a person who knew more about baseball, and was frequently astonished at his vision of the game and its history. We (including my wife and 2-year-old at-the-time daughter) got to know Luke and his newly-wed wife, Barbara. They were a delightsome couple.
Two young men we were...he and I (one from Massachusetts and one from Oregon) and two different university and home backgrounds, yet we got along quite well. I learned much about the Red Sox and the Bruins and how to speak with a Boston accent. Luke had a profound influence on my life. I have always considered him to be a great friend. I am thankful that I knew him.

Don Francis

April 6, 2023

Luke was a great friend to me as we were students @ Notre Dame...Freshman in Stanford Hall, drinking beer @ Senior bar, ND football games as students, some concerts we attended in South Bend, ND class reunions.... Al Smith's record bar in South Bend....music, sports... these were important & fun things we were involved in....

Single Memorial Tree

Celia Converse

Planted Trees

Meghan Gutierrez

April 4, 2023

On behalf of everyone at the Lymphoma Research Foundation, please accept our heartfelt condolences. Luke´s kindness and generosity of spirit helped untold numbers of people. May his memory always be a blessing to your family.

Dick George 101st Airborne Division

April 4, 2023

Requiescat in pace amica meus! Ave at que vale!

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Memorial Events
for Luke Griffin

Apr

4

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home - Wellesley

477 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482

Apr

5

Funeral

9:00 a.m.

George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home - Wellesley

477 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482

Apr

5

Funeral Mass

10:00 a.m.

St. Paul Church

Wellesley, MA

Funeral services provided by:

George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home - Wellesley

477 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482

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