Thomas Griggs Sr.

1936 - 2023

Thomas Griggs Sr.
Thomas S. Griggs Sr., 87, of Orange, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2023. Husband of Barbara Ann Welker Griggs, Tom was born on April 19, 1936, in Waterbury, Connecticut to the late Henry Little and Harriett Lewis (Aiken) Griggs. Tom was predeceased by his first wife Judith (Schott) Griggs. Tom attended school in Waterbury and graduated from Taft School in 1954. Joining the US Army, Tom was assigned to the Signal Corp. in Augusta Georgia. Upon discharge in 1961, Tom and his family moved to Milford to a job with Sikorsky. From 1964 - 1968 Tom worked at SNET. Tom graduated Magna Cum Laude in Industrial Engineering in 1966. In 1968 Tom was hired by Bridgeport Hospital as the Director of Data Processing. He was always proud of purchasing and installing the first IBM Mainframe computer. His career at Bridgeport Hospital lasted 46 years, until he retired at age 78. While living in Milford, Tom was active in the community, joining the Jaycees and being elected to the Planning & Zoning Board. In 1974 Governor Meskill appointed Tom to the board of the State Technical Colleges. Tom was a pillar of Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church on the Green in Milford taking a leadership position on the Church Foundation, replacing the slate roof and renovating the organ. Having attended Keewaydin Camp in VT as a youth, Tom continued as a counselor and attended over 35 years of post-camp reunions. Tom could always be counted on to have a camera with him. He also used that camera to take photos of trains, especially diesel and electric engines. Recently, his comprehensive collection of train books and magazines was donated to the Gateway Community College Library, where there is an annual scholarship in Tom and Barbara Ann's name. In addition to his wife Barbara Ann, Tom is survived by his children Thomas Jr. (Edward Bottomley), Susan O'Shea (Thomas O'Shea) and Christine "Missy" Hackett (Eric Hackett). Tom will also be missed by his grandchildren, Erin O'Shea, Brian Taylor and Joshua Hackett. Thomas was predeceased by his brothers Henry Little Griggs Jr. and Edward Aiken Griggs. Tom was widowed in 2008 and was married to Barbara Ann in 2014 enjoying a new family that included 7 grandchildren. As usual, he was never seen without a special dog in his arms. Friends and family may call from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday December 15, 2023, at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 BROAD ST., MILFORD, CT. A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Saturday December 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, 168 S Broad St., Milford, CT 06460 (MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH). Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom's honor to the Thomas and Barbara Ann Griggs Gateway Community College Foundation, Railroad Technology Scholarship. c/o Heidi Green Gateway Community College, N107, 20 Church Street, New Haven 06510 To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.