Obituary of Gerald Frederick Griffin

Gerald Frederick Griffin

October 4, 1934 - May 17, 2021

 

Memorial Service

Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel

Thursday, August 19, 2021 10 AM

 

Gerald Griffin was born ready to play ball, and his lifelong love affair with the Detroit Tigers began early. On the day Jerry was born – October 4, 1934 – the Tigers won their first World Series game in 25 years (against St. Louis, in extras, for those of you keeping score at home). 

 

Jerry grew up in Highland Park, MI and attended Highland Park High School, a place which fostered his love of sports and gave him life-long friends. After graduating in 1952 with varsity letters in baseball, basketball, and football, he attended Eastern Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He played second base while his childhood friend, Earl Bossenberry, played first base. He graduated in 1956, majoring in Physical Education and earning a BS in Education.  

 

From 1957-1959, Jerry served in the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. A First Lieutenant, he was the Head of Athletics. During his service, he played baseball with Norm Cash, who went on to play for 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers. 

 

After his service, Jerry returned to Detroit in December of 1959 and took a job as a teacher and coach in Highland Park Schools. He coached baseball, basketball, and football. He attended night school to earn a masters in Guidance and Counseling from Eastern Michigan University. 

 

In 1961, Jerry married and turned his attention to raising his five children while working in labor relations for several companies over his career, including Ford Motor Company, American Standard, and Holley. As had always been true on the playing field, Jerry competed hard in every negotiation, while nevertheless exercising good sportsmanship and treating every player at the table with respect. He often talked of his work with a sense of humor, showing a genuine respect and appreciation for both sides. In a world of rising division, he was a reminder that adversaries should be treated with civility. In short, Jerry was a gentleman. 

 

Jerry was also a HUGE fan of any and every Michigan-related sports event, with baseball and the Tigers topping the list. He loved sharing that passion with friends and family whom he’d take to games and events.

 

Watching sporting events on TV alongside Jerry was an invariably colorful (and memorable!) experience; Jerry wasn’t shy about putting on his coaching hat and “counseling” players through the screen, with a running commentary that threw in “pointers” for broadcasters as a bonus. He appreciated old school players who knew the rules of the game and exercised old-fashioned sportsmanship. He was particularly fond of Al Kaline. Taking his fashion cues from the world of sports, Jerry almost always donned a Tigers cap, a Michigan fleece, or a PGA shirt. 

 

When Jerry wasn’t working or watching sports, he played golf. He traveled to places like Florida, California, and Ireland to play challenging courses. A teacher all his life, he volunteered with the Junior Golf Association upon retiring to Traverse City, because he enjoyed helping kids learn the game. 

 

Jerry had a natural openness and was never shy about introducing himself to strangers. Genuinely interested in others, he often told stories about the people he met during his travels. During visits, Jerry always took his family out to eat because he loved the camaraderie and atmosphere (he also couldn’t cook to save his life). He loved the American classics: hot dogs, pizza, and (of course!) oatmeal raisin cookies. 

 

Jerry was kind, down-to-earth, generous, and funny. And in an ironic age characterized by cynicism and despair, he was an eternal optimist; he passionately believed that with hard work and attention, a person could do anything they imagined. Jerry genuinely loved people: he loved his children, his grandchildren, and his friends, even maintaining friendships from his earliest days as a boy.

 

Jerry also enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s athletic contests, listening to music from past eras – he was especially fond of the songs of Ricky Nelson – doing crossword puzzles (he wouldn’t use a pencil!), and watching detective series. When at Jerry’s place, he controlled the remote, but he’d always listen to suggestions. He was fond of saying “Let it happen, Captain” to reflect his easy-going nature.

 

Jerry is survived by his five children: Julia (Michael Terner), David (Nicole), Nancy Seifert, Marianne, and Elaine (Mike Fischer) as well as nine grandchildren: Daniel, Rosemarie, and Elise Terner; Tyrus, Claire, and Graham Griffin; and Ben, Grace, and Jonah Seifert. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Griffin and Edith Griffin.