John Wheeler Griffin III ’64

John Wheeler Griffin III ’64 passed away on November 15, 2011. He came to Dartmouth from Bemidji (Minnesota) High School, where he was on the basketball team and captain of the golf team. An avid coin collector, he received a citation for his work on the College’s rare coin collection. He was a multitalented outdoorsman and sports enthusiast who enjoyed waterskiing, skiing, hiking and canoeing in Minnesota and Ontario canoe country. He was also a skilled card player who enjoyed bridge and poker. An incredibly gentle and kind man, he was never seen by his friends to do a mean or small thing or raise his voice. In August 1965 he joined the U.S. Army, in which he served as an infantry lieutenant until 1970. John returned from Vietnam with numerous medals, including the National Defense Service Medal. Sadly, while there he was exposed to Agent Orange, which probably caused the cancer, peritoneal liposarcoma, that caused his death. John was a certified fellow in production and inventory management and applied his skills for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing and Martin Marietta among others. He earned an associate of science in respiratory care and worked as a respiratory therapist in Denver. John was known for his passion for hiking the Rocky Mountains, generosity toward his family and volunteer work with veterans groups. He is survived by his son Jason, daughter Minda, sister Connie, mother Bernadette and caregiver and former wife Mildred.