Conrad W. Griffin, 89, passed peacefully at home January 10, 2022, surrounded by his family. He (and his identical twin Curtis) were born December 1, 1932 in West Hartford, Connecticut to Carl and Esther (Boutwell) Griffin.
Conrad grew up in Mansfield, Massachusetts and graduated from Mansfield High School in 1951. He and Curt were avid athletes and played football, track, and basketball. They both attended the University of Connecticut. Conrad graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. After college, he and Curt joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, where Conrad was Sergeant with First Battery Artillery Battalion. Upon returning home, he was named Phi Kappa Phi and earned a Master’s degree in Horticulture from Kansas State University in 1960. That same year he was employed as County Extension Agent at Rutger’s University for Passaic County, New Jersey.
He married Blair Clement in 1963, and adopted her young son, Paul. Later that year, Conrad started working with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service in York County. He and Blair had two children together, John and Kate. They spent most of their family summers on Matinicus Island where he made many lifelong friends. In 1972, his family moved to Orono where he continued to work for Cooperative Extension as Community Development Specialist with an interest in Marine and Aquaculture Development, including harbor management, and helped facilitate the creation of the Maine Harbor Masters Association.
Conrad married Fran Daly in May of 1996 and in November of 1996, retired from the University of Maine as Professor Emeritus of Community Development and Marine Education. At his retirement, the Maine Harbor Masters Association declared him the “father” of the organization and granted him a lifetime membership. This association was one of his proudest achievements.
Conrad was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved family get-togethers and would often be seen with his camera around his neck, capturing precious family moments. He instilled a strong work ethic into his children as well as taught them to be kind and honest. He prided himself on staying very fit his entire life. He was passionate about gardening and could tell anyone the latin name of any plant and what it needed to grow and flourish. He and his wife Fran enjoyed birding, kayaking and attending events at the Collins Center for the Arts. It seemed that anywhere he went, he would run into people he knew. Everyone loved Conrad and friends and family called him “Connie”. He possessed a very kind, humble and genuine heart. He and Fran were active members of the Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor where he was often seen serving baked beans at church events.
He is pre-deceased by his brothers, Dr. Carl R. Griffin Jr. of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Chester B. Griffin of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and his twin, Curtis W. Griffin of Williamsburg, Virginia; son Paul B. Griffin of Brunswick, Maine. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-five years, Fran Daly Griffin of Bangor; son John Griffin & partner Natalie Ames of Camden & Matinicus; daughter, Katherine “Kate” Griffin & her husband Dr. Rich Leidinger of Hope; grandchildren Gardner Griffin, Isabella & Ezekiel Bryant, and Sarah & Tristan Leidinger; as well as many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
After a career dedicated to the mission of bridging university resources and community, Conrad’s last act of commitment in helping people is his most generous. He selflessly gifted his children, grandchildren and humanity by donating his body to science to further research for Alzheimer’s disease to Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Conrad’s honor to: Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Hospital (or any Alzheimer’s Research Program), Maine Harbor Masters Association in Scarborough, My Friend’s Place in Bangor, or to Maine Public Radio in Lewiston.
A celebration of his life will be announced later. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Conrad Griffin, please visit our flower store.
Conrad grew up in Mansfield, Massachusetts and graduated from Mansfield High School in 1951. He and Curt were avid athletes and played football, track, and basketball. They both attended the University of Connecticut. Conrad graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. After college, he and Curt joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, where Conrad was Sergeant with First Battery Artillery Battalion. Upon returning home, he was named Phi Kappa Phi and earned a Master’s degree in Horticulture from Kansas State University in 1960. That same year he was employed as County Extension Agent at Rutger’s University for Passaic County, New Jersey.
He married Blair Clement in 1963, and adopted her young son, Paul. Later that year, Conrad started working with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service in York County. He and Blair had two children together, John and Kate. They spent most of their family summers on Matinicus Island where he made many lifelong friends. In 1972, his family moved to Orono where he continued to work for Cooperative Extension as Community Development Specialist with an interest in Marine and Aquaculture Development, including harbor management, and helped facilitate the creation of the Maine Harbor Masters Association.
Conrad married Fran Daly in May of 1996 and in November of 1996, retired from the University of Maine as Professor Emeritus of Community Development and Marine Education. At his retirement, the Maine Harbor Masters Association declared him the “father” of the organization and granted him a lifetime membership. This association was one of his proudest achievements.
Conrad was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved family get-togethers and would often be seen with his camera around his neck, capturing precious family moments. He instilled a strong work ethic into his children as well as taught them to be kind and honest. He prided himself on staying very fit his entire life. He was passionate about gardening and could tell anyone the latin name of any plant and what it needed to grow and flourish. He and his wife Fran enjoyed birding, kayaking and attending events at the Collins Center for the Arts. It seemed that anywhere he went, he would run into people he knew. Everyone loved Conrad and friends and family called him “Connie”. He possessed a very kind, humble and genuine heart. He and Fran were active members of the Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor where he was often seen serving baked beans at church events.
He is pre-deceased by his brothers, Dr. Carl R. Griffin Jr. of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Chester B. Griffin of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and his twin, Curtis W. Griffin of Williamsburg, Virginia; son Paul B. Griffin of Brunswick, Maine. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-five years, Fran Daly Griffin of Bangor; son John Griffin & partner Natalie Ames of Camden & Matinicus; daughter, Katherine “Kate” Griffin & her husband Dr. Rich Leidinger of Hope; grandchildren Gardner Griffin, Isabella & Ezekiel Bryant, and Sarah & Tristan Leidinger; as well as many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
After a career dedicated to the mission of bridging university resources and community, Conrad’s last act of commitment in helping people is his most generous. He selflessly gifted his children, grandchildren and humanity by donating his body to science to further research for Alzheimer’s disease to Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Conrad’s honor to: Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Hospital (or any Alzheimer’s Research Program), Maine Harbor Masters Association in Scarborough, My Friend’s Place in Bangor, or to Maine Public Radio in Lewiston.
A celebration of his life will be announced later. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
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