Andrew Stephen Griffith

Andrew Stephen Griffith Andrew Stephen Griffith, 53, of Austin, Texas, died on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Austin. Andrew was born December 24, 1955 in Bethesda, Maryland, the second eldest of eleven children to Robert Thomas and Anna Mae Griffith. Andrew grew up primarily in Fort Meade and Glen Burnie, Maryland and also lived a few years in the Philippines. He was a graduate of Andover High School in Linthicum, Maryland. In 1977, Andrew received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland. Through his lifelong love of learning, he earned further academic achievements including a Master of Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas in 1987 and a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. At the time of his death, Andrew was nearing completion of his doctorate degree in Environmental Geography from Texas State University. Andrew maintained a Professional Engineer's license with Texas and Oregon. He was also a certified demographer. Andrew's distinguished career was devoted to the United States Navy where he proudly served his country as an officer in the Naval Corps of Engineers from 1976 to 1996. During Andrew's naval career he traveled the world with assignments in Iwukuni, Japan; Washington, D.C.; Kings Bay, Georgia; Port Huneme, California; Belleville, Illinois (US Transportation Command); and Gulfport, Mississippi (Company Commander, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One and later as Executive Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One). He also served in Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia. Andrew served his last tour of duty as the Public Works Officer at Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas. He completed his career as a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Corps of Engineers. Andrew was awarded numerous military awards during his career including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal. Andrew's greatest love was his wife, the former Catherine Ley Bartow of Kingsville, Texas, whom he met during his last tour of duty. They were married on April 13, 1996 in Salem, Oregon. For the next eight years Andrew worked as a transportation engineer for the Oregon Department of Transportation. He dearly loved Oregon, its beautiful countryside and all of his Oregon friends. In 2002, Andrew and Cathy returned to Texas to be closer to family. In Austin Andrew worked for the Texas Department of Transportation, first as a transportation engineer with the Research and Technology Implementation Division and finally as a transportation engineer with the Design Division, Field Section A. During this time Andrew felt a desire and duty to serve his country once again and spent from September 2005 to September 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq as an engineer with the U.S. State Department and the Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction. Andrew was an avid runner, hiker, amateur photographer and the ultimate family man. He participated in sports throughout his life and received varsity letters in both football and lacrosse in high school. Andrew is survived by his wife Cathy of Austin, Texas, two step-sons and one step-daughter: Shawn Bartow, wife Elizabeth and grandchildren Dylan and Taylor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Brian Bartow, wife Jennie and grandchildren Bailey, Paige and Tanner, Canyon Lake, Texas; and Ashley Ryan and husband Jesse of Austin, Texas. Andrew was preceded in death by his father Robert and mother Anna. Andrew's ten surviving siblings include six brothers and four sisters: Theodore Griffith and wife Lori, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Patrick Griffith and wife Lisa, Safety Harbor, Florida; Michael Griffith and wife Siew, Olive Branch, Mississippi; James Griffith and wife Mary, Pasadena, Maryland; Thomas Griffith and wife Carol, Herndon, Virginia; Ronald Griffith and wife Kate, Raleigh, North Carolina; JoAnn Jones and husband Mark, Odenton, Maryland; Connie Griffith, Glen Burnie, Maryland; Barbara Tietz and husband Jim, Eagan, Minnesota; and Linda Griffith, Glen Burnie, Maryland. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws. Local services include a rosary at 7:00 p.m. on March 19, 2009 at Harrell Funeral Home and a memorial Mass at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 4311 Small Drive, Austin, TX 78731, (512) 451-5121 on March 20 at 2:00 p.m. A gathering will follow Mass at the church reception area. Andrew will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, at 9:00 a.m., Monday, June 1, 2009. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759, 1-800-445-3261. To Andrew -- Duty, Honor, Country. -- The Heart Remembers.