Longtime Mt. Kisco Village Trustee George Griffin Dies at 67
George Griffin Jr., a longtime member of the Mount Kisco Village Board and planning board, was warmly remembered by colleagues this week as a man who was dedicated to his community, country and family.
Griffin died at home on Christmas Eve surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer. He was 67.
“George represented and cared about every segment of the Mount Kisco population,” Mayor Michael Cindrich said Friday. “He enjoyed life and never refused anyone who asked for help.”
Griffin, who was first elected to the board of trustees in 2003, had been deputy mayor for the past four years. Prior to his tenure on the village board, Griffin served on the planning board for eight years.
“George worked tirelessly overseeing the rebuilding of much of the village’s infrastructure, from projects in Leonard Park and the senior center to the building of the (new) Mount Kisco Library,” Cindrich said.
But Griffin’s involvement in community affairs was not limited to his work on the village and planning boards. A longtime member of the Lion’s Club, he was a Vietnam veteran and spent much time with the Moses Taylor American Legion Post 136, Cindrich noted. He served as commander of the post in 2000 and was devoted to helping wounded veterans at the Montrose VA.
“Though George was active in so many external organizations his family was very important to him,” Cindrich said. “George believed in getting together as often as possible. Thanksgiving was a holiday he looked forward to each year, but so was the Fourth of July and all of the other holidays. Food was love for George and he loved to cook and see people enjoy the food and people around them.”
Griffin was born on Oct. 16, 1947, in White Plains to George and Marjorie Griffin, the third of five children. He was drafted into the U.S Army when he was 19 years old and served in Vietnam as a military policeman. He was assigned to Company A of the 720th MP Battalion, 18 MP Brigade at Long Binh, the largest U.S. military base in Vietnam. He received the Army commendation medal for his service during the Tet Offensive.
After his military service, Griffin worked in the building materials industry and was later a partner in Richard’s Lumber on Kisco Avenue for more than 20 years.
Griffin married his wife, Grace, in May 1989. He has two children, George L. Griffin III, who married Colleen Hickey, and Catherine Mary Griffin, and two grandchildren.
Don Ford, treasurer and general manager of the local American Legion post who knew Griffin for about 25 years, said his friend struggled with severe stomach pain from cancer near the end.
“I hope I make it to Christmas,” Griffin told Ford about six months ago.
Ford said Griffin was very active with the American Legion, going to the hall in Mount Kisco about every other day, often to cook for various events.
Trustee Anthony Markus said he was very close with Griffin, remembering him as a giving person generous with his time and always ready to donate toward a cause.
“George was my friend and you always knew he had your back,” Markus said. “He will be sorely missed and the loss runs deep.”
“George was a patriarch, passionate in expressing his views while exuding stability and strength,” he continued. “He employed his vast knowledge in construction overseeing the villages’ buildings and grounds while protecting our tax dollars by insuring we were not overcharged. One of his projects includes restoration of the cupola and interior and ceiling at village hall–returning the majesty to a building that represents the village, it’s government and residents.”
Trustee Karen Schleimer remembered how Griffin was always ready to serve others.
“George was one of the most honorable, gracious, kind and dedicated men I have had the privilege to know,” Schleimer said. “He went out of his way for everyone. He was one of those rare human beings who found the good in everyone and treated everyone as if each and every person were a jewel. We will miss his grounded sage advice and perspective. It is hard to put into words how much he has done for Mount Kisco and how much he will be missed.”
Trustee Jean Farber praised Griffin for his kindness and devotion to the community, calling him “a true American hero.” She also said that serving with him was a great learning experience.
“He always told the truth and always spoke from his heart,” Farber said. “He was plain spoken and cut to the core. He represented the common man and had a way of expressing himself, which I knew was exactly right on. He took complicated issues and made them simple to understand.”
Griffin is survived by two sisters, Diane (Cissie) Roach, and her husband, Tom, of Canandaigua, N.Y., and Dawn Griffin-Parnell, and husband Bruce, of Danbury, Conn. Griffin was predeceased by his brother, Edward Griffin, his mother, Marjorie Boraski, and his brother (John) Brian Griffin.
Visitation will be at the Cassidy-Flynn Funeral Home, located at 288 E. Main St. in Mount Kisco, on Saturday, Dec. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis of Assisi Church at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29. Burial with full military honors will follow at Holy Mount Cemetery in Eastchester.
