James Solomon Griffin

In Loving Memory of James "Jamey" Solomon Griffin

1964 - 2025

We mourn the passing of James "Jamey" Solomon Griffin, who died on March 18, 2025, at Kaiser Medical Facility in San Marcos at the age of 60. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on March 1, 2025, Jamey's battle with the illness was brief but courageous.

Jamey is predeceased by his mother, Lucille (2015), and father, Jack (2020). He is survived by his younger brother, Jody; stepmother, Arline; stepsister, Danielle Bunn; many cousins; and numerous friends.

Born in 1964 at Doctor's Hospital in San Diego, Jamey was a lifelong resident of Escondido and graduated from Orange Glen High School in 1983. Jamey began his career as a small appliance repair technician in 1982 at Mart's Appliance Service in Escondido, where he remained until its closure in 2014. He then joined Bittner's Restaurant Equipment in Vista until it closed in 2018, after which he followed a friend and coworker to Chefs' Toys in San Marcos. A dedicated and skilled worker performing restaurant equipment deliveries and installations, Jamey was recognized for his efforts during the San Marcos store's closure in 2024 and transferred to the San Diego location, where he continued working until his diagnosis.

Jamey was a man of many talents and interests; during his school years this included playing guitar, electronics, and architectural drawing. A prolific DIYer, he enjoyed hot rods, dune buggies, and home improvement projects. Like his father, he believed in repurposing old or broken items-regularly seeing potential in what others chose to discard. Jamey often said, "I'll hold onto this for now because I might need it in the future"; some things were saved for many, many years.

An avid reader since childhood, Jamey had a deep love for science fiction, westerns, and adventure novels, especially those by Louis L'Amour and Clive Cussler. Inspired by his mother's work as the family genealogist, Jamey developed a strong interest in the Old West and became a member of the Single Action Shooters Society, where he was known by the handle "Guejito Jack."

Jamey had a gift for connection. He placed no time limits on relationships and was as kind and generous to new friends as he was to those he'd known for years, if not decades. He stayed in close contact with cousins, aunts, and uncles from both sides of his family and was always ready to lend a helping hand. A fixer by nature, Jamey dedicated much of his life to supporting his loved ones.

Jamey dealt with anxiety and depression for over 30 years; he was very matter-of-fact when talking about his mental health issues and openly supported others navigating similar conditions. In 2019, Jamey was hospitalized with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a neurological condition that caused partial paralysis on his left side. After four difficult months, he made a nearly full recovery.

In February 2025, Jamey began feeling ill with what seemed like the flu. At the urging of friends and family, he visited urgent care on February 27. Following further tests and an emergency room visit, Jamey received a preliminary diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, officially confirmed on March 1. Doctors explained that AML often mimics other illnesses and Jamey's illness may have been developing for months-or even years-without any clear symptoms. The only other person in Jamey's family with AML was his maternal grandfather Joseph Kempton, who passed away in 1991 at the age of 76.

Once detected, Jamey's AML progressed quickly; the following two weeks were a whirlwind of treatments and tests. Unfortunately, Jamey experienced an unusually high number of complications-each new solution seemed to trigger another issue, like a relentless game of "whack-a-mole." Midway through his first chemotherapy cycle, treatment had to be paused. By the time a new strategy was found, it was too late.

Throughout it all, Jamey remained realistic and resolute. He chose to continue fighting as long as treatment gave him hope but made it clear he did not want to suffer needlessly. That strength and clarity came from a lifetime of quiet resilience.

The night before he passed, Jamey prayed and thanked God for the good life he had been blessed with. He often said, "We always had a roof over our heads and food on the table-we had what we needed, which is more than a lot of people have." Jamey had a deep empathy for the less fortunate, and seeing the homeless during his delivery work caused him great pain. He also told his brother Jody how proud he was of the man Jody had become, and Jody reminded him he had played a big part in that. Although Jamey never married or had children of his own, he considered his legacy to live on in the children of his family and friends.

On the morning of March 18, doctors informed Jamey that he would need to begin dialysis. Knowing firsthand the toll dialysis had taken on his mother and aunt, Jamey chose to stop fighting. Palliative care began, and family and friends were quickly notified. That same day, Jamey was baptized in the hospital by the pastor of his cousins Roy and Treva.

On March 18, 2025 at 10:05 p.m., surrounded by loved ones, Jamey took his last breath.

As per his wishes, Jamey was cremated. His ashes will be interred with his mother at Greenwood Memorial in San Diego at a later date.

"Brother, Friend, Fixer of Stuff. Missed by All He Knew."