Richard Sheppard Griffith Sr.
Published 12:56 pm Monday, March 29, 2010
Richard Sheppard Griffith Sr., 68, of Windermere, Fla., passedaway March 25, 2010, at Orlando Regional Medical Center after abrief illness.
He was born Aug. 24, 1941, in Somers Point, N.J., to C. GordonGriffith and Alta Sheppard Griffith. He graduated from North MiamiHigh School and attended Rollins College. He was retired as vicepresident of the Florida Division of Sysco Foods.
He and his family traveled all over the world during his workingyears and after retirement. He was a former resident ofFayetteville, N.C., Banner Elk, N.C., and Breckenridge, Colo.
His philanthropy is evident in every place he lived with his bestaccomplishment being the benefactor of the Griffith Lodge at theBreckenridge Outdoor Education Center in Colorado. The lodge thatbears his family name and its staff has helped thousands of specialneeds children and adults over the years excel at activities beyondtheir normal capacity. The lodge was renamed in 2005 as the ScottGriffith Lodge in memory of his son. He was a member of CommunityPresbyterian Church in Celebration, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his son, Robert ScottGriffith. He is survived by his wife, Ann West Griffith, ofWindermere; his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and KarenGriffith, of Ocoee, Fla.; his daughter and son-in-law, Robin andKevin Laird, of Brookhaven; and his stepmother, Donna L. Griffith,of Boca Raton, Fla. He is also survived by his beloved Chihuahua,Nacho.
A celebration of his life was held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 27, atWoodlawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Nancy Graham-Ogne officiating.Burial was in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Al Ibrahim,Joe Bednarczyk, Patrick Counze, Richard Griffith, Kevin Laird andBlake Smith.
Memorials may be made to Community Presbyterian Church or afavorite charity.