Charles S. Griffen

1931 - 2022

Charles S. Griffen, 90, of Bloomfield, formerly of West Hartford, transitioned from this life on March 8, 2022. He was born on March 30, 1931 in White Plains, N.Y. and was the son of the late Charles R. Griffen and Mary Ellen Sherwood. Charles was predeceased by the love of his life, Prudence, and is survived by his son, Ned Griffen of Pawcatuck, and his daughter, Lisa Griffen, significant other of Philip Papadakis of West Hartford. His extended family includes his sister-in-law, Priscilla Scharnberg and Prue's nieces, Dianna Polnac and Laura Sanders and their families of Katy, Texas. Locally he is survived by his niece Karen Brown, wife of Andy Verderame of Branford, and her three children, Jayson, Eric and Kevin. Charles served in the United States Air Force and earned degrees across the country, including his MA in Library Science from the University of North Texas in 1968. His career would find him working for Rice University in Houston, the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M. and a 20-year tenure as the Head of the Business, Science and Technology Department at the Hartford Public Library. Our family would like to highlight that our Dad was selfless, generous, humble and kind. A gentleman's gentleman, he wore a suit to church on Sundays, tipped his hat and never missed an opportunity to extend a personal expression of gratitude. Dad navigated this life with an open heart and a generous spirit. He and our mother lovingly cared for over seventeen cats during their 54 years of marriage. He piled up large sacks of seed in the garage so that he could regularly feed birds, chipmunks and squirrels. He also quietly paid the mortgage of a friend in crisis, bought a doghouse for a homeless canine and always hoped that no one would notice. We remember that Dad consistently put family first. There were family dinners every night of the week, Friday night board games and bedtime stories he read to us with happy, peaceful tones. We also want to celebrate the dedication, selflessness and kindness our father showered on our Mom after she suffered a traumatic brain injury, followed by the onset of dementia. He loved and protected our Mom with such tenderness and dedication, whether it was keeping copious notes and organizing medications, or having "date nights" with her after she was moved into memory care and bringing her flowers for no special occasion. Memories of our Dad would be incomplete without mention of his infectious laughter, his ability to recite nearly every line of the television series M*A*S*H, his spot on imitation of a foghorn, his love of old time radio shows, his commitment to his many volunteer positions, the joy he found in the beauty of Maine and New Mexico and the passion he possessed for his beloved Bloomfield Congregational Church. Our family would like to thank both A and B Homecare Services and Seabury Care Now for the extraordinary care they provided to our Dad during the final season of his life. We also want to thank treasured friends Barbara Durham and Kevin Ryan, as well as the Masonicare Hospice staff, for their kindness and support of both Dad and our family on the final leg of his journey. A service of celebration for Charles' life will be held in the spring of 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bloomfield Congregational Church, Bloomfield, CT, Special Organ Fund, 10 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT, 06002 or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com We love you, W1GYR. Thanks for loving us unconditionally.