James A. Griffin, 90, of Middletown, CT, beloved husband of the late Patricia Griffin, passed away on November 21, 2024. Born in Brooklyn, NY on May 17, 1934, he was the son of the late William E. Griffin, Sr., and Anastasia Florence (Devanie). In high school, Jim lettered in track and football (playing a number of games in Ebbets Field) and was editor of the school newspaper. At graduation, he won the award as scholar-athlete of his class. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and qualified for a Regular Army competitive appointment to West Point. While at the USMA Prep School at Stewart AFB, he decided against a career in the military, opting after his discharge as sergeant to attend the University of Notre Dame from which he received a BA in journalism. He went on to receive an MA in Public Communications from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University. After college, Jim worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Elkhart and South Bend, IN, followed by several years as editor of The Standard, a weekly newspaper in Ghana, West Africa. During this period, he was also a correspondent for several news services. Back in the states, Jim began a career in public relations with Mobil Oil Corp. and then moved on to a long-term career with IBM. Jim was once editor of IBM's award-winning "Word Processing" magazine, which coined the term and acquainted the world with the newer uses of the machines that replaced typewriters in the workplace. After retirement, Jim began a second career and worked as a marshal in the CT Judicial Branch. An avid swimmer and outdoorsman, he enjoyed long cruises in his sailboat and was a licensed pilot with land and seaplane ratings. In 1992, Jim married Patricia. They enjoyed many happy years and a great deal of international travel as well as many trips to football games at Notre Dame. He always referred to these jaunts to Indiana as "trips to the Holy Land". As a parishioner at St Margarets Church in Madison, where he lived from 1985 - 2017, he was a Eucharistic Minister, member of the parish council, and promoter of the men's yearly retreat. He was a member of the Lions, Westbrook Elks, Knights of Columbus (4th degree), Notre Dame Club of Greater Hartford and American Legion Post 79. In addition to his parents and spouse, Jim was preceded in death by his siblings William E. Griffin, Jr., Robert T. Griffin, John D. Griffin, Maureen (Griffin) Satti and Richard T. Griffin. Jim leaves behind his three sons Gregory Griffin, Santa Cruz, CA; Daniel Griffin, MD and his wife Jessica, Port Washington, NY; James Griffin and his wife Fiona, Toronto, Canada; stepchildren Gary Gessaro and his wife Kris (Zywocinski), Middletown, CT; Michael Gessaro, Middletown, CT; Pamela (Gessaro) Russell and her husband Jim, Middletown, CT, and his 12 grandchildren Fiona, Rhodri, Daisy, Eloise, Barnaby, Jasper, Jason, Carley, Olivia, Finn, Emily, and Mathew. Family and friends will be received on Monday, December 16, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., D'Angelo's Funeral Home, 22 South Main Street, Middletown, CT, followed by a funeral mass at 11:45 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 310 Westfield Street, Middletown, CT. Interment will be held at the State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT.