Griffen, Thomas P
Thomas (Tom) Paul Griffen, 71, of Ellijay, GA, husband of Anna (Spach) Griffen, passed away on September 6, 2022, with his beloved wife at his side at Solace Hospice in Asheville, NC. Tom was a brave, creative, compassionate person with a brilliant wit and gentle, yet courageous spirit. He shared his love, laughter, and light with many people.
Born in New Britain on February 7, 1951, the son of the late Selden K. Griffen, Jr. and Vera Mae (Nystrup) Griffen, he was a former New Britain resident, moving from New Britain to Avon, West Hartford, Essex, and later to Ellijay, Georgia, and then Asheville, North Carolina. Tom was a graduate of the Mooreland Hill School, New Britain High School, Prescott College in Prescott, AZ, and the University of Connecticut Law School. After passing the bar exam, he became a partner at Sweeney and Griffen, a firm maintaining offices at the old post office on Main St. in New Britain. Tom had a passion for archeology, history, art, and literature, interests he sustained from his teenage years until his passing. In 2010, he reunited with his college girlfriend, Anna (Zabrina) Spach, and they married the next year. Tom retired from his legal career in 2013. He and Anna then moved south, making the small mountain village of Ellijay, GA. their home. In that community, Tom became a self-taught painter of miniature landscapes. He and Anna became vendors at art festivals, while enjoying the serenity and solitude of the mountains and their wild nature. Tom also became deeply engaged in Christian spirituality and made his relationship to Christ central in his life.
Besides his wife Anna, he leaves a son, Augustus Smith Griffen of Unionville; two step children, Alexander Thomerson of Ellijay GA and Julea Thomerson of Nashville TN; three nieces and a nephew: Virginia Griffen of Middletown, Laura Brazeil of Fishkill New York, Rebecca Griffen and Selden Griffen IV of Kensington; and his devoted sister-in-law Donna Griffen, also of Kensington, along with many dear friends and cousins and his much-loved Aunt Virginia. Tom was predeceased by his parents and his brother and best friend, Selden (Kenny) Griffen III.
Services and the interment of ashes will be held at Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Jasper, GA, on October 29, 2022. Due to the distance and remoteness of Jasper, there will be Celebration of Life in Connecticut at some time in the future, TBA. Donations may be made in memory of Thomas Paul Griffen to: LBD Research Fund of the American Brain Foundation at https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org
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