Obituary of James Griffin

James F. Griffin, Jr., a retired employee of NSTAR, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Hospital on Friday morning, April 17, 2015 with family, including his beloved wife Katherine (Nutt), by his side. He was 89 years old. Jim was born in Somerville. He was one of four children born to the late James Francis and Ellen (Ring) Griffin. Raised and educated in Arlington, Jim attended St. Agnes Grammar School in Arlington and St. John’s High School in Cambridge. He was a veteran of World War II serving his county in the United States Navy. Jim was stationed at NTS Newport, RI and NTS NOB Norfolk VA. He saw service on two destroyer escorts the USS Riley and the USS Metivier. Jim was proud to have served his country and even had a model of the USS Metivier that he displayed in his home next to the Silver heart medal his father had received for service in World War I. Jim was the recipient of the WWII Victory Medal, Army Achievement Medal, European-African Medal Eastern Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star and the Asian Pacific Medal with two bronze stars. After the Navy a friend of Jim’s from the service invited him to a Sunday dinner at his family’s home in Lexington. It was there that he would meet his future bride Katherine “Chickie” (Nutt). Jim and Katherine would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on May 1st. Jim and Katherine settled in Burlington in 1960 where they raised their 5 sons. Jim had a long and distinguished 62-year career working at NSTAR (formerly Boston Edison) in Waltham. He started at the age of 27 as a Lineman and literally “climbed the ladder”to become a Leader Lineman for over 40 years During his career at NSTAR he helped out on recovery efforts following major storms and hurricanes and in 1988 was a part of the recovery efforts in Jamaica after the devastations of Hurricane Gilbert. He loved his job and made many friendships amongst both his fellow Local 369 Utility Workers Union members, upper management and employees throughout the company. When offered the chance for an early retirement, Jim, a lover of the playing in the stock market, opted to keep working so he could keep investing in the market. This choice would ultimately become another 16 years of work service with Nstar which would then merge to become Northeast Utilities, now EverSource Energy. He would often say he was lucky to have received an opportunity with the Boston Edison when he left the Navy and to have met so many great people there throughout his career. He retired at the age of 86 and was recognized for his long service with honorary life membership in the Utility Workers Union of America. Jim was a devout Catholic and was a member of the Burlington Knights of Columbus volunteering and participating in many of their activities. For several years, he also worked a second part-time job a Bartender at the Knights which was more of a social event for Jim than a job. Jim and his family enjoyed vacationing at Wells Beach in Maine when the children were young. Jim and Katherine, along with his three siblings and sister-in-law (The Griffin Six) began taking annual trips to Aruba in 1989 where they purchased timeshares and also traveled to many other destinations, including Hawaii, the Grand Canyon and Costa Rica. He loved watching and talking sports and was a die-hard Notre Dame football fan. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to take a trip to South Bend with his brother Fran to see their favorite team play. Jim also loved to talk (and debate/argue) politics and was a life-long conservative and Republican Party member. He contributed his time to numerous political campaigns during his life, including championing the Barry Goldwater canvassing efforts in Burlington and surrounding towns during the 1964 Presidential election. Most of all, Jim loved his family and spending time with his wife and sons, his granddaughters and his siblings and their families. Jim will be remembered as a hard-working family man, an American patriot with a wry sense of humor and a serious side too. Jim was the beloved husband of 62 years of Katherine (Nutt). He was the loving and proud father of James & his wife Mary of Milton, VT, Mark of Hampton, NH, Neil & his partner Martin Varela of Washington, DC, Terrence of Lowell and Barry of Dorchester. He was the brother of Catherine Griffin, Francis Griffin & his wife Elaine and Mary Desmond all of Arlington. He was the proud grandfather of Katherine & Jennifer. Jim was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURILNGTON (Exit 34 off Rt., 128 Woburn side) on Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, BURLINGTON. In lieu of flowers memorials in Jim’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net & www.st-malachy.org