Gerald J. Griffin Jr.

Gerald J Griffin, Jr. 88, of Stroud Township, died at home on Sunday March 30,2025. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Karen Lee ( Subcleff) Griffin, their three children and spouses and ten grandchildren. Frederic and Kara( Livingood) Griffin and their children Isabella, Danielle and Franklin of Reno; Peter and Suraya (Smith) Griffin and their children Grace, Maya, Dutch, Autumn and Macy of Reno; Suzanne Griffin-Lawson and Dan Lawson of Spokane and their children Alexander of Boulder and Gretta of Bozeman; and a sister Elizabeth Bergen and brother-in-law Michael Bergen, Sr of Philadelphia and sister-in-law Patricia J Griffin of Coatesville and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and great great grandnieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Gerald J Griffin, Sr and Bertha M. Griffin and his sister Rosemary Griffin and brother Vincent Griffin.
Jerry was born in Philadelphia and attended LaSalle College High School and LaSalle College. Wanderlust took him west where he was a member of the first Ski Patrol at Vail, Colorado in 1962-1963. Transporting racing shells across country for the Loyola Marymount University Crew team landed him in LA and a construction job moved him north to San Francisco where he met his wife Karen and they married in 1965.
They lived in Watsonville, CA from 1966-1973 and the family relocated to the Poconos in 1973.His life work was in construction. A member of St. Luke's since 1974 he also participated in the Knights of Columbus, the Exchange Club, and was an American Red Cross Disaster volunteer. He enjoyed hunting with his sons and friends, spending summers at Shadowbrook Swim Club-playing tennis, volleyball and singing around the campfire. Parades, costume parties, raft races and canoeing on the Delaware River were enjoyed.
Jerry loved to sail and spent years crewing with family and friends. (Lake Tahoe, Chesapeake Bay, Maine, Martha's Vineyard, Intercostal Waterway, Virgin Islands ). Highlights were the Trans-Tahoe Race and the Newport-Bermuda Race which resulted in a Coast Guard helicopter rescue in turbulent seas.
2001 started the years of the grandchildren and the cross country treks. He attended concerts, sporting events, sacraments, and ice skated, skied, sledded, hiked, camped, sang and read stories to all. Babop or Grandpop, orchestrated skits, costumes, singing and all sorts of nonsense.
In his later years summers were spent at Lake Almanor, CA swimming, boating, hiking and playing tennis with family and friends. He also enjoyed his monthly luncheons with the Lasalle High school class of 1954 and recently celebrated their 70th reunion.
Above all, Jerry valued a great book, a great practical joke, a great hat and a great party. Whether among family, friends or the general public he never missed an opportunity to create a memorable event.
A mass will be celebrated at 11am Tuesday, April 8, at Saint Luke's Catholic Church, 818 Main St. Stroudsburg, with Father Michael F. Quinnan as celebrant. There will be a visitation from 9:30-11am prior to the mass at the church.
Funeral Arrangements will be handled by William H Clark Funeral Home
In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to the Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 N Ninth St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360