Joseph Griffin Jr.

Joseph James Griffin Jr.

May 14, 1958 – July 15, 2018

MIDDLETON, MASS. and HARRISON, MAINE — Joe ascended the stairway to heaven on Sunday, July 15, 2018, following a courageous six-week battle with a late diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., to Joseph Griffin Sr. and Helen McCarthy Griffin Doiron, Joe was the oldest of three children. He is survived by his mother, Helen; brother Daniel and wife Rita; and sister Christine and husband Patrick Dowe; as well as nieces, Brianne and Julie Griffin, Samantha and Mikayla Dowe and nephew Riley Dowe; sister-in-law Robin Brown and husband Emile Seymour; his wife and soulmate Pamela Brown; and children, Joseph Henry and Geneva Dionne Griffin. He was predeceased by his father, Joseph Griffin, stepfather Robert Doiron, and in-laws Robert and Theresa Brown.

Meeting his wife when he was a teenager, they never left each other’s side and kindled a forty-year love story that was made complete when Joe became a dad and was fondly known as “Big Joe.” He was the nucleus of his family and his world revolved around his children and their accomplishments. He was most proud of his son’s hockey career and never missed a chance to stand behind the net waiting for his son to score a goal; cheering in the stands as his daughter won gold medals for figure skating, and watching them graduate from high school.

Generous to a fault, Joe never wanted anything for himself and would give away the shirt on his back. He was always on the ready to help a friend, offer his wife’s expertise to solve anyone’s problem with his phrase “don’t worry I’ll have Pam take care of that,” and his children never left home without their dad saying “need any money?” Always soft-spoken, kind, humble and grateful, Joe was happiest on the shores of Long Lake in Harrison, Maine, where he spent his last days with his wife and children.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Agnes Church, 22 Boston Street, Middleton, Mass., on Saturday, July 21, at 10 a.m. Interment will be private at the family cemetery in Groveton, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Joe’s memory and to fulfill his final wish for his children to graduate from college, donations may be made to: The Joseph and Geneva Griffin Scholarship Fund, c/o First Ipswich Bank, 107 High Street, Danvers, MA 01923.

Arrangements by the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main Street (Rt. 28) Stoneham, Massachusetts.

To send a memorial condolence www.barilefuneral.com or www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome