Richard (Dick) A. Griffin

Richard A. "Dick" Griffin, 80, of Alton NH passed away on July 6, 2022 after a long illness. The son of Arnold and Dorothea (Drew) Griffin, Dick grew up in New Castle, NH and attended New Castle and Portsmouth schools. He graduated from Portsmouth High School, Class of 1959. As the son of a Portsmouth Naval Shipyard machinist, he developed an early fascination with all mechanical things.  After attending the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA he started his career at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a draftsman trainee.  When he noticed the engineers were working on much more interesting tasks, he entered the college co-op program between the Navy Yard and the University of New Hampshire and earned his mechanical engineering degree. Dick went on to hold several engineering and management positions in the Engineering Department, PERA (now SUBMEPP) and the Combat Systems Office.  He retired as the deputy Chief Engineer in September 1997 after a 37 year career.  He then started his second career as an officer with the New Hampshire Marine Patrol, patrolling NH lakes and providing safety and law enforcement to the boating public. He retired recently from the NHMP after 21 seasons of proud service. When not working on submarines or patrolling lakes, Dick spent much of his time at his happy places like his camps on Mousam Lake and vacationing in Aruba. He was an accomplished carpenter, plumber and electrician who made many renovations and updates to his camps over the years. He also loved working on his collection of antique cars and boats.  He restored his 1967 VW Beetle, which was his first new car, and two early Ford Mustangs. Many a summer evening he could be seen cruising around Mousam Lake in his 1967 classic Correct Craft boat. Dick is survived by his wife Anna of Alton, NH; his son Peter Griffin and his wife Karen of Groton, CT; his daughter Amy Griffin of Brighton, MA; his stepson David Desmarais and his wife Renee of Carmel, IN; his grandchildren Carolyn Hartman and husband Jeff of South Hadley, MA; Crystal MacDonald of Weare, NH; Caitlyn Pelletier and husband Donny of Sanbornville, NH; Rachel Desmarais and Frank Desmarais of Carmel IN; six great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter; his brother-in-law John Harrington of Wilbraham, MA; his neice Kimberly Harrington and her fiancé Ron Crosby of New Milford, CT; his nephew Jeffrey Harrington and his wife Emily of Springfield, MA.  Dick was predeceased by his sister Gail Harrington. No services will be held.  Instead of flowers, charitable donations may be sent to the Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley, 221 County Farm Rd., Dover, NH, 03820