Donald Webb Griffin

Visitation:
Friday, April 5, 2019
6:00 PM - 9:00 PMWesthampton Beach Fire Department
92 Sunset AvenueWesthampton Beach, NY 11978
Prayer Service:
Friday, April 5, 2019 7:30 PMWesthampton Beach Fire Department92 Sunset AvenueWesthampton Beach, NY 11978

Interment:
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Procession to leave Funeral Home at 10:00 AM
Southampton Cemetery
North Sea Road
Southampton, NY 11968

Born: December 11, 1934 Died: March 31, 2019 Age: 84

Donald Webb Griffin, died on March 31, 2019 at his home in Westhampton Beach after losing his fight with cancer. He was 84 at the time of his death and would have been married 62 years on April 21.

Born in Southampton, NY on December 11, 1934, he attended Southampton Public Schools, graduating in 1952. Excelling in sports, Don was the catcher on the 1951 baseball team, when Southampton won the Suffolk County Championship for the first time.

He graduated from Cortland State College in 1956 with a degree in Health Education. After graduation, he accepted a job teaching Science in Westhampton Beach, where he started in the Jr. High School; and eventually taught Biology in the High School, where he remained until his retirement 36 years later.

In 1957, Don married his high school "sweetheart" May Frankenbach. They moved to Westhampton Beach where they raised their four children. Don loved teaching and coaching, including such sports as baseball and soccer. He also umpired baseball games for many years and kept the clock at basketball and wrestling matches. He was a member of the Westhampton Presbyterian church for many years and served on the Session as well as the Trustees and Deacons.

After his marriage, his second life commitment was to the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, where he served as a volunteer for over 60 years. During his time he was the President of the Benevolent Association, Treasurer, Driver, Fire Police and was a Fire Education Instructor. Other firemen often joked that he slept in his clothes, because he was usually the first responder to arrive at the fire house.

Having a family was a priority, but having fun was important too. He enjoyed boating and going to the beach with his family. Don and May also loved to travel and were avid campers who started in a tent and then eventually owned a Winnebago motorhome. Don and May were proud to boast that they slept in every state except Hawaii.

Don is survived by his wife, May and four children. Gail Klepper and husband Mark of Remsenburg, Greg Griffin of Southampton, Gaye Bugenhagen and husband Jay of Annapolis and Gini Wagner and husband Bryan of East Quogue. His brother Graham lives in Bridgehampton. He was also the proud PopPop to seven grandchildren (Jenna, Alyssa, David, Matt, Jake, Taylor and Griffin)

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to those charities close to his heart:

- Westhampton Beach Fire Department Benevolent Fund - mailed via check

- Westhampton Beach Fire Department Scholarship Fund - mailed via check

- The Hurricane Education Foundation - available online at: https://www.westhamptonbeach.k12.ny.us/community/hurricane_educational_foundation