R. John Griefen

R. John Griefen

1914 - 2010 LEXINGTON R. John Griefen, 95, died peacefully at home on Feb. 17, 2010, in Brookhaven in Lexington. He leaves his beloved wife of almost 70 years, Faith Adams Griefen. He leaves sons, John Adams Griefen and his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Katherine; Michael W. Griefen and his wife, Susanna, and son, Zachary; Edward "Ned" Griefen and his wife, Angela, and children, Lucas and Ana; great-grandchildren, Max and Naomi, and loving nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Jack was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Chicago, Ill., son of Richard S. and Hazel Mitchell Griefen. He received a B.A. from Northwestern University, and went to work for the Gorham Silver Co., where he met his wife, Faith Adams. They were married in 1940. Jack was a first-lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division in World War II and served as ski instructor until he was deployed as part of the occupation forces in Japan.

For most of his career, Jack was an industrial realtor, working in Boston for R.M. Bradley, and then serving as senior vice president of Cabot, Cabot and Forbes; as a partner in Hines Industrial, an affiliate of Gerald D. Hines of Houston, Texas, and as a principal in the firm of Reynolds, Vickery, Messina & Griefen of Cambridge. Jack was past president and member emeritus of the Urban Land Institute. As director of the Massachusetts Eisenhower campaign, Jack was ever after a strong supporter of Democratic politics.

He was an avid sportsman, and loved tennis, skiing, sailing, gardening, and birding. He was a drummer in a jazz combo, which raised funds for local charities. He was deeply committed to racial justice and one of the early supporters of the Prison Art Project, which taught art to inmates in Massachusetts prisons. To the last, he loved and cared for his wife, the love of his life.

MEMORIAL NOTICE: There will be an informal gathering in remembrance and thanksgiving for Jack's life on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 2:30 p.m. at Brookhaven at Lexington, 1010 Waltham St., Lexington, MA 02421 in the Living Room.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Travelers Aid Family Services, 727 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02111, noted Griefen memorial.