WATERBURY CT - Mr. John T. "Jake" Griffin, age 84 of Birchfield Dr. Waterbury, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 9, 2013 at the Village of East Farms surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was the husband of Christine (Quinn) Griffin.
Jake was born July 22, 1929 in Waterbury the son of the late Dennis and Nora (McKenna) Griffin. A lifelong resident of Waterbury, he was educated in local schools, graduated from Sacred Heart High School and was a veteran member of the Waterbury Police Department for 48 years of unparalleled service. He began his illustrious career with the City in 1951 as a Patrolman and in 1965 he took the City's first civil service exam and finished at the top of class and was promoted to Sergeant. As a new sergeant Jake was given the responsibility of establishing the City's first Youth Division where he worked for four years. In 1968 he was promoted to Lieutenant - Head of the Vice and Intelligence Division and Head of the Naugatuck Valley Crime Squad. His path to success continued and in 1972 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Criminal Investigations. During his career with the Waterbury Police Jake held literally every position, including Acting Deputy and Acting Superintendent. His sharp investigative sense and nose to the grindstone approach was credited with hundreds of cases being solved under his leadership. A few of the most notable include the Pasternak murders, the Purolator robbery and murder and the Julia Ashe kidnapping and murder. During his years at Sacred Heart he was a member of the schools first football team, a member of the baseball team and involved with the school's biology, chemistry and English clubs. In 1999, Jake was honored with the school's Sisters of Mercy Public Service Award. Jake was a family man, loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren who held a special place in his heart. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Besides his devoted wife, Christine of 59 years, Jake is survived by his three sons and their wives; Thomas and his wife, Katherine of Waterbury, James T. and his wife, Susan Cannata of Waterbury and Patrick and his wife, Gina of Wolcott, his adoring grandchildren, Niall, Kathleen, Jessica, Rocky and Jake. He also leaves three sisters; Sr. Mary Dennis Griffin CSJ of West Hartford, Agnes Caffrey of Waterbury and Rita Kelly of Naugatuck as well as several loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his two brothers Francis and Dennis Griffin, his three sisters Mary Mclean, Catherine Philbert, and Helen Rossi
Funeral Services with full Police Honors for Mr. Griffin will be held on Friday, September 13th, 2013 at 9:00 am from Eastside Memorial, "A CASEY FAMILY FUNERAL HOME & TRIBUTE CENTER" 1987 East Main St @ Southmayd Rd Waterbury to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 605 South Main St Waterbury to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am. Rites of committal will follow in New Pine Grove Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with Jake's family on Thursday from 4:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Jake's memory may be made to the The Autism Society of Connecticut (ASCONN). P. O. Box 1404. Guilford, CT 6437or to St. Judes Children Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Pl Memphis, TN 38105 To extend on-line expressions of sympathy to his family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at: www.eastsidememorial.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John T. Griffin, please visit our flower store.
Jake was born July 22, 1929 in Waterbury the son of the late Dennis and Nora (McKenna) Griffin. A lifelong resident of Waterbury, he was educated in local schools, graduated from Sacred Heart High School and was a veteran member of the Waterbury Police Department for 48 years of unparalleled service. He began his illustrious career with the City in 1951 as a Patrolman and in 1965 he took the City's first civil service exam and finished at the top of class and was promoted to Sergeant. As a new sergeant Jake was given the responsibility of establishing the City's first Youth Division where he worked for four years. In 1968 he was promoted to Lieutenant - Head of the Vice and Intelligence Division and Head of the Naugatuck Valley Crime Squad. His path to success continued and in 1972 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Criminal Investigations. During his career with the Waterbury Police Jake held literally every position, including Acting Deputy and Acting Superintendent. His sharp investigative sense and nose to the grindstone approach was credited with hundreds of cases being solved under his leadership. A few of the most notable include the Pasternak murders, the Purolator robbery and murder and the Julia Ashe kidnapping and murder. During his years at Sacred Heart he was a member of the schools first football team, a member of the baseball team and involved with the school's biology, chemistry and English clubs. In 1999, Jake was honored with the school's Sisters of Mercy Public Service Award. Jake was a family man, loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren who held a special place in his heart. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Besides his devoted wife, Christine of 59 years, Jake is survived by his three sons and their wives; Thomas and his wife, Katherine of Waterbury, James T. and his wife, Susan Cannata of Waterbury and Patrick and his wife, Gina of Wolcott, his adoring grandchildren, Niall, Kathleen, Jessica, Rocky and Jake. He also leaves three sisters; Sr. Mary Dennis Griffin CSJ of West Hartford, Agnes Caffrey of Waterbury and Rita Kelly of Naugatuck as well as several loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his two brothers Francis and Dennis Griffin, his three sisters Mary Mclean, Catherine Philbert, and Helen Rossi
Funeral Services with full Police Honors for Mr. Griffin will be held on Friday, September 13th, 2013 at 9:00 am from Eastside Memorial, "A CASEY FAMILY FUNERAL HOME & TRIBUTE CENTER" 1987 East Main St @ Southmayd Rd Waterbury to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 605 South Main St Waterbury to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am. Rites of committal will follow in New Pine Grove Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with Jake's family on Thursday from 4:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Jake's memory may be made to the The Autism Society of Connecticut (ASCONN). P. O. Box 1404. Guilford, CT 6437or to St. Judes Children Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Pl Memphis, TN 38105 To extend on-line expressions of sympathy to his family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at: www.eastsidememorial.com .
Guestbook
Visits: 11
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors