Andrew Stephen Griffiths, Sr., 67, of Canton, Georgia, formerly of Fairhaven, passed away on April 5, 2004, at Wellstar-Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, surrounded by most of his loved ones, due to complications from stomach and lung cancer. He was the beloved husband of Margaret A. "Peggy" (Sellinger) Griffiths; they were married for 45 years.
Born and raised in Cambridge, the son of the late Andrew and Catherine (Hogan) Griffiths, he had lived in Fairhaven since 1965 and had moved to Canton in November 2003. He attended Sacred Heart High School and graduated with honors from Bentley College.
At the age of 17, Mr. Griffiths joined Cambridge Electric as a messenger while attending Bentley College at night to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and while also working part-time at Star Market. In 1965, he accepted a position in the Accounting Department at New Bedford Gas and Electric Company and worked for the company for 42 years before retiring in 1996 as Executive Vice President of Administration and Environmental Compliance.
Mr. Griffiths worked from many years on the Fairhaven Finance Committee. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph's Church. He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodges in both New Bedford and Wareham.
Mr. Griffiths enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958 and served both active and reserve duty until 1962 when he was honorably discharged.
His son Andrew stated that "as with life, he faced death with the same fight, determination and humor of a great man. The last few weeks he continued to spiral downward without any warning, and before the doctors were able to determine the source, the disease had spread throughout his body. He was blessed with great medical care and passed peacefully into the next life."
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Andrew Stephen Griffiths, Jr., and his wife Libby (Horn), of Woodstock, GA, and David Michael Griffiths, and his wife Patti (McCoy), of North Canton, Ohio; a daughter, Julie Ann Griffiths of Panama City, Florida; two brothers, James Griffiths of Nashua, NH, and David Griffiths of Port Charlotte, Florida; a sister, Sr. Catherine Griffiths of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Duxbury; and three grandchildren, whom he was very proud of, Meaghan and Ian Griffiths , both of Woodstock, and Sarah Griffiths of North Canton.
A Memorial Mass to celebrate his life will be held on Friday at 6 PM in St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven. Burial in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven will be private. His family will receive visitors at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett, Friday 3-5 PM, prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name be made to Children's Hospital Trust, 138 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446.