Robert Griffin

Dear Sue, Mike, Nancy, Mary and family,
The passing of your precious dad has rekindled many great old stories in my family and at the firehouse of his long and proud career with the Greece Police Department. We that knew him well and admired his knowledge, fairness and humor must not let his legacy be forgotten.
Bob was also a volunteer firefighter with my North Greece Fire Department; joined in 1952. What tales. As you might imagine, law enforcement and firefighting was a whole different ball game back then. I believe it best that those stories be left for the next family party or over coffee at Panera Bread.
I remember Bob’s pride in his family, but also in his wooden boats, cars, cottage, and job. I recall in 1958 when the GPD had some Mercury police cruisers. I used to kid him about his family car back then, also a Mercury station wagon. He was an admirer of Conesus Lake, VerHulst Brothers sweet corn, old boats, Wheel-Horse tractors, a neat yard, the U.S. Navy, John Kennedy, and hard working Greece farm families long gone, such as my parents.
He was a dedicated individual. He used to tell me there were lots more to police work than chasing bad guys. In the fall of 1961, Bob Griffin was first on the scene of a fatal car wreck that took the lives of three young lives in Greece. One was my brother Eddie. Following that nightmare, I felt Bob’s arm of support and compassion around me many times. I knew that’s what he meant with his remark. Indeed, he understood like others did not.
Bob: how interesting that you passed away one day before Thanksgiving. You see old pal; that gave us all an opportunity to include you in the many blessings we noted on Thanksgiving Day.
And so, a long time friend and knowledgeable voice in our community is now silent. I can picture Bob up in heaven now. All are laughing as he shares his tales among his old cop buddies, names that come to mind; VerWeire, Bucklin, MacKissick, Zamites, Gray, Carter and Paul.
I love the photo shown along side his online obituary. That was Bob Griffin – always a pressed shirt, always a neat uniform, whether he was rolling out of his police car at a crime scene or sitting behind his desk as pictured, looking good, ‘on the job.’
Rest easy old friend. Thanks for the memories. Thanks mostly for your strong arm around me 48 years ago.
Gene Preston, Greece, NY

Sorry for your loss.