Walter R. Griffin of Southbury, Connecticut (formerly of Waterbury, Connecticut) died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on April 9, 2010, after a short illness. He was 88.

Mr. Griffin was an attorney in Waterbury, Connecticut for 61 years. He began his practice in 1948 with a desk, a sign, and deep reservoirs of determination. Mr. Griffin gained a reputation as a loyal and effective advocate for his clients and as a respectful and honorable colleague among members of the bar and bench, and his practice grew. In 1978, he was joined by his son, Atty. Stephen R. Griffin, and later by Atty. Linda Mayo and another son, Atty. David W. Griffin.

Mr. Griffin graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1948. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. He served in many civic and bar association positions at the local and state levels, including as a member of the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Bar Association and as a member and President of the Waterbury Bar Association. He was Chairman of the Waterbury Housing Authority, a member of the Waterbury Board of Public Welfare, Chief Moderator of Elections in Waterbury for many years, and the Census Director for the Fifth Congressional District of Connecticut in 1950.

Mr. Griffin was also the General Counsel to and a director of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Waterbury and its successor, Webster Bank. He was a founding director of the Connecticut Attorneys' Title Insurance Company and a member of the Connecticut Standards of Title Committee. He served as a member and Chair of the Board of Directors of Waterbury Hospital, and as President of the Country Club of Waterbury, where he spent summer days as a teenage caddy and many happy years golfing as a member of the club.

Walter Robert Griffin was born on December 27, 1921 in Waterbury, the son of James B. and Katherine (Keough) Griffin. He attended Barnard School and graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury in 1939. His high school English teacher informed him that he should attend Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, an institution of which he had never heard, so he applied to and was admitted to Williams on scholarship in the Class of 1943. He graduated from college early in order to enlist in the U. S. Army, in which he served during World War II. The Army assigned him to its Ordnance Department in Aberdeen, MD, where he trained infantry and armored division soldiers, and then to an investigative unit in the Army's office in Philadelphia. When Mr. Griffin reported to duty at that office, he was mustered into the unit by a civilian employee of the Army, Marie Elizabeth Elmer, and the two of them fell in love and married in 1948.

Mr. Griffin is survived by his wife, Marie E. Griffin, five children, 11 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, his brother, James B. Griffin, Jr., DMD, of Farmington, Connecticut, numerous nieces and nephews, and unnumbered friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his sister, Katherine Leeds. In addition to his sons Stephen (Maureen) and David (Diane) of Cheshire, Connecticut, his survivors include another son, Greg (Posey) of Redding, Connecticut, and two daughters, Pam Babin (Mike) of Bellaire, Texas and Michele Lattanzio (John) of Ludlow, Massachusetts.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mr. Griffin's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: Sacred Heart Church

Services: Funeral services for Mr. Griffin will be held on Wednesday, April 14th at 9: 00 a.m. from theSouthbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere , 235 Main Street North, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10: 00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, CT.

Visitation: Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, April 13th from 4: 00 pm to 7: 00 pm at the funeral home.