James Craig Griffin, Ph.D., of Deep River, passed away on Dec. 9 of natural causes at the age of 70. Jim was born in Lubbock, Texas, on Sept. 4, 1948, and was the only child of J.C. and Mary Louise (Cunningham) Griffin, both of whom preceded him in death.
Jim is survived by his wife H. Kaye Griffin, daughter Erica Keely Andujar, and husband Felix of Elkton, Maryland, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law residing in Waxahachie, Texas, and Anchorage, Alaska. All who knew him well recognized that Jim and his daughter Erica had a very special and loving relationship, by far the most important in his life.
With his wife Kaye, Jim enjoyed traveling, cruising, and organic gardening. He was an avid reader from childhood throughout his adulthood and was rarely seen without a book (or Kindle). Jim had many interests, including wooden boat building, boating, sailing, woodworking, writing, photography, reading, fly fishing, and especially growing antique roses. Jim was most proud of his boat-chartering business and spent many days (and years) in local marinas working on and preparing his beloved Grand Banks “Cherokee” for her next charter. In football season, Jim scheduled his day around Texas Tech Raiders games.
Jim graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock and received his bachelor of arts degree from Texas Tech University in 1972 with a major in psychology and a minor in English. He earned a Ph.D. in experimental-clinical psychology with a minor in developmental disabilities. Dr. Griffin began his career as a student psychologist at the Lubbock State School and later became a program coordinator and research assistant at the Research and Training Center in Mental Retardation at Texas Tech University.
A career move took him to Western Carolina Center in Morganton, North Carolina, where he served as a unit director and a senior psychologist while concurrently working as an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University and Davidson College. Dr. Griffin later returned to Texas as a clinical psychologist for the Gulf Coast Regional Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center in Galveston.
Jim was recruited for the position of director of education and training at the Richmond State School in Richmond, Texas, and served as a principal investigator for the Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities. His professional experiences in the Houston area included director of special programs, Texas Department of Mental Health and Retardation, adjunct research scientist at the Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences in Houston, and behavioral-administrative consultant.
Concurrent with his work in Richmond, Jim began a private practice (Griffin & Associates), which expanded to New England in 1987. His private practice included working for numerous public and private school districts, the Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation, several regional services centers, Founders School in East Haddam, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, New Hampshire Department of Mental Health and Developmental Services, Office of Adult Probation in Waterbury and Torrington, SARAH, and Brian House, Inc., for whom he provided services for approximately 25 years, and several other agencies in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
He will be forever in our hearts and minds as we remember our many fun times and experiences with him. Private visiting hours and a service were held for the family. In the spirit of continuing Jim’s effort to provide services to special populations, charitable donations may be made to Brian House, Inc., P.O. Box 134, Chester, CT 06412. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.
