Elizabeth B. Griffin

Elizabeth B Griffin (Betty) of Heron Point, Chestertown Maryland, died on May 25, 2024. She was a vibrant and engaged 101-year-old. Betty was born in Philadelphia PA on May 17, 1923, the daughter of the late George Riggs Beard, and Sara Stanley Beard. She was raised in Havertown, PA, with her sister, the late Elaine B. McCarthy. She was a graduate of the Haverford Township High School class of 1941 and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from West Chester State Teacher’s College (now West Chester State University) in the class of 1945. Betty taught school at Manoa Elementary School, in Haverford Township for 10 years. Betty always had a love for travel and took advantage of the school schedule to travel in summers with a group of like-minded teachers in her early years as a teacher. In 1956, she was introduced, through a fellow teacher, and church friend, to William C. Griffin, who she would soon marry. The two settled in West Chester Pa, and she gave up teaching to raise two children, Bill and Maris. Betty was an active volunteer throughout her life, volunteering at First Presbyterian Church, in West Chester, and the Visiting Nurse Association, also in West Chester. Betty and Bill developed a love of the water, that coincided with raising their children. They paddled a canoe, sailed his and her Sunfish sailboats, and graduated to larger cruising sailboats that took them to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Frequent weekends, and even vacation times were taken on the water, often with friends of the children along, as well as meeting up with a growing number of friends on the water. In 1991, Betty and Bill moved to Heron Point in Chestertown Maryland, having seen this new community being proposed on the banks of the Chester River. They were among the earlier residents to sign up to move in, even before their cottage was built. The sailing, which got them to Chestertown, continued…and even flourished. Betty was active in Rock Hall Yacht Club, volunteered for 22 years at Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital in Chestertown, and was among early members of Presbyterian Church of Chestertown…before the current building was built, and served as a deacon, and volunteered at the Heron Point Community. Betty was blessed with a green thumb, and in addition to enjoying numerous dear friends at Heron Point over her more than 30 years there (residents and staff), she loved to tend her flowers, whether in a flower bed at 405 Osprey Court (the rose bushes are still thriving) or the bay windowsill at 248 Oak Brook Terrace. Betty embraced technology. She was an avid reader, reading the Washinton Post on her iPad daily, and corresponding with friends and extended family by email, and loving seeing photos of far-flung family members pop up in her email thread. When a grandchild would write to her…. she would write back, even at 101. Betty is survived by her son Bill Griffin, spouse Maggie Beck, children Will and his partner Sarah, and George with partner Gabby, and great grandchildren Lyla, Brantley, Logan, Ollie, and Lara. She is also survived by daughter Maris Vanasse, spouse Rick Vanasse, children Sam, Carl, and Sara, her husband Luke, and great grandchildren Gus and Carl.

Elizabeth B. Griffin

May 17, 1923 - May 25, 2024