Christopher Mark Griffin, 60, of Rhinebeck

Christopher Mark Griffin, 60, a longtime Rhinebeck resident who grew up in Red Hook, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck.

Born on Dec. 22, 1955, in Rhinebeck, N.Y., he was the son of Vincent and Marjorie (Hefferman) Griffin of Red Hook.

Chris graduated with honors in 1974 from Red Hook High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego in 1978 with a double major in Computer Science and German.

He started his career as an intern with IBM while still in college and continued with IBM for a very long and very successful 36 years. Chris’s first job at IBM was as an associate programmer on the second shift in Kingston, N.Y., and he eventually retired as a senior engineer, consulting for IBM’s largest customers at locations in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States, and Canada. He was very well-traveled during his career, visiting major cities throughout the world.

An avid downhill skier, he enjoyed skiing the Catskills, Killington, Vt., and the Swiss Alps during adventures with family and friends from Rhinebeck and Red Hook.

Chris was an accomplished saxophone player, both in high school and college. He was fluent in German, and enjoyed studying the romance languages.

A competitive and accomplished high school athlete, Chris played varsity football, basketball, tennis, and golf. He was a former longtime active member of the Red Hook Golf Club and was instrumental in recruiting new member to the club.

A two-time cancer survivor, Chris in later years was active in counseling cancer patients and survivors throughout the Rhinebeck area.

A very kind and gracious soul, Chris is survived by his loving parents, Vincent H. and Marjorie Griffin of Red Hook; his brother, Scott F. Griffin

of Rhinebeck; his sister and her partner, Elizabeth Crockett and Paul (Pruitt) Estok of Clermont; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and colleagues throughout Rhinebeck, Red Hook, and Columbia County.

He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Paul J. Crockett.

Funeral services and interment will be private. A celebration of Chris’s life will be announced.

Memorial donations may be made in Christopher’s memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718.

Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook, N.Y.

To sign the online guest book, please visit www. Burnett-White.com.