James Wells Griswold died July 10, 2010 at Riverwoods in Exeter, NH. He was 101 and cared for by an extraordinary team of nurses and assistants.
He was born at home on June 5, 1909 in East Cleveland, Ohio, (Cuyahoga County) son of James H. Griswold and Hope Erwin Griswold.
At Oberlin College he met Bonnie Day who for 73 years he referred to as his "first wife".
They had 4 daughters: Susan Blandy, Jane Radocchia, Betsy Vershay and Cinny Griswold.
They are also survived by sons-in-law Tom Blandy and Tony Radocchia; by grandchildren Nick Goldwater, Jim and Charley Blandy, Alex, Peter and Anna Radocchia; and great-grandchildren Isaac, Cyrus, and Leo Goldwater, Madoka and Mika Blandy, Madeleine and Nicholas Blandy, Leon Zealand, and Eben and Althea Radocchia.
He is also survived by his sister Hope Curfman, by William and Dorte Griswold, many cousins.
Jim earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1934, having worked as an auto service mechanic to earn the tuition. Back in "those days" he could change a flat tire with his bare hands. He then worked for Williams Mfg. Co. selling shoes and installing their IBM punch card system in 1935. After a stint at Fenn College (now Cleveland State) he became the business manager for Park College in Parkville, MO. While there he was a member of Rotary and helped reorganize, fund and train the volunteer fire department.
In 1950 the family moved to Exeter, NH where Jim was the treasurer of Phillips Exeter Academy for 16 years.
He then served as Manager of Development for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, raising money for the Centennial Year and retiring in 1974.
In 1990, he and Bonnie moved to Riverwoods where many friends already lived.
He was a director of United Life and Accident Insurance Co. (now Chubb). He was on the board of trustees, often as treasurer or president, for the Exeter Hospital, Eventide Home, The Currier Museum, the Exeter Historical Society, the Exeter Day School and the First Congregational Church of Exeter.
His projects included placing 65 High Street on the National Register, helping launch Strawbery Banke, persuading Exeter to adopt zoning,
and raising funds for the Public Library and Founders Park, for the Historical Society, the Exeter Hospital additions, the town hall elevator, the Town House Common, the First Church columbarium and new steeple, and for the food pantry.
His 100th birthday party drew more than 400 friends and raised $9000 for the food pantry.
Battles lost included Nelson Rockefeller's bid for the presidency, and the fights against the Newington Air Force Base and the Seabrook Nuclear plant.
He was his class agent at Oberlin College for 35 years.
He hated sitting still. He believed God expected us to have fun. Up until age 90 he put 1,000 miles per year on his bicycle, often riding in the Academy Woods.
He loved being outside, sailing, playing golf, skating, and raising early tomatoes.
He could swim the length of the Academy Pool underwater into his 70s.
At age 82, his wife told him it was time to give up climbing on the porch roof to hang storm windows.
He was an excellent photographer and lectured on tithe barns and cathedrals.
He went to every museum and factory tour he could.
He was a very skillful driver, especially on unmarked back roads, often scaring his children and wife.
He was very interested in farming and architecture although he felt the Louis Kahn Library was a too expensive "asset" at PEA.
In 1965 he and Bonnie began their annual trips to England where they made many friends, especially in Solihull.
In 1990 he published A Guide to Medieval English Tithe Barns.
As a member of the Griswold Family Association, he wrote about Griswolds in England and led tours of family sites. He was frugal, curious, honest, funny and kind, always trusting his good luck and many productive Jungian coincidences.
His family, immediate and extended, always knew he loved us.
A memorial service will be held on August 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM at The Congregational Church in Exeter, 21 Front St. Exeter, NH 03833.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Griswold Book Fund at Exeter Public Library, 4 Chestnut St. Exeter, NH 03833 or Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, or plant a tree as an act of faith.
As he said in his "99 Memories" book, Dear Lord Thank You for All You Have Done.
Brewitt Funeral Home, Exeter, NH is handling the
arrangements. To sign an on line guest book, please visit
www.brewittfuneralhome.com---------------------------------------------------
Name: Griswold, James H.
Date: Jan 7 1960
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #114.
Notes: Griswold, James H., beloved husband of Hope, father of Mrs. Dan W. Holmes, Mrs. George Curfman of Denver, Colorado, Erwin of Boston, Mass., and James W. of Exeter, N. H., grandfather of 14, and great-grandfather of 1, residence, 19201 Van Aken Blvd.
Burial Lake View Cemetery private.
Memorial service at Fairmount Presbyterian Chapel, Fairmount Blvd. and Coventry Rd., Service Friday at 4 p.m. Among his interests was the Council on World Affairs. Bennett-Sharer service
Name: Griswold, Hope Erwin
Date: Oct 1 1962
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #114.
Notes: Griswold. Hope Erwin Griswold, wife of the late James H., beloved mother of Mrs. Dan W. Holmes, Mrs. George Curfman of Denver, Colo., Erwin of Boston, Mass. and James W. of Exeter, N. H., grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of two, residence, 19201 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Burial private. Lake View Cemetery.
Memorial service at Fairmount Presbyterian Chapel. Fairmount Blvd. and Coventry Rd., Monday at 4:30 p. m. Among her interests was the Council on World Affairs. For further information call Ga 1-1420