Judith D. Griffin

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Dean Toulas, sisters Nancy Demaine and her husband Dick of Windham and Virginia Kent and her husband Larry of Jacksonville, Florida; nieces Sarah Huntress of Lake Tahoe, California and Lori Demaine of Windham, nephews Gabriel Huntress and his wife Kristin of Asheville, North Carolina, and Christopher Demaine of Windham; and cousins Susan Burch of Sequim, Washington and Carolyn Hatling of Santa Clara, California; and her dear personal friends Sandra Brodeur of Boscawen, NH and Jane Lucas of Austin, TX.

Ms. Griffin was a well-known advocate for elders living in nursing and residential care. She worked tirelessly for long-term care residents in New Hampshire and nationally to improve the quality of care, quality of life and full realization of their rights to dignity and respect. She was a loving wife, daughter, aunt, friend and selfless caregiver who savored every precious moment of life. Judith loved flowers and gardening, classical music, reading, collecting Asian decorative arts and travel. She delighted in sunny days by the pool with Dean, walks beside the ocean, lobster and boardwalk pizza, and relaxing with a pet in her lap.

Judith Griffin was born May 2, 1945 in New London, Connecticut, the eldest daughter of Robert A. Griffin and B. Elizabeth (Feather) Griffin (later Woodcock). She grew up in Atkinson, New Hampshire, lived for 18 years in East Hampstead, and lived the past 25 years in Boscawen. She was a graduate of Sanborn Seminary in Kingston and Perry Normal School (now a part of Curry College), earned her BS in Education at Boston State College and did post graduate work at Boston University School of Social Work, with a focus in gerontology.

Ms. Griffin taught first grade and readiness in Haverhill, MA and with the Timberlane Regional School District in Danville, NH for several years. She began working with elders in 1976 as a case manager, and later as a Regional Supervisor, with Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, based in Lawrence. Licensed as an LCSW with the Massachusetts Board of Social Work, Judith also served for many years as Director of Social Services in nursing homes in Haverhill and Methuen, and in Concord, New Hampshire. She was founder of the Association of Long-Term Care Social Workers of the Merrimack Valley, providing continuing education opportunities and peer support to social workers specializing in the psychosocial needs of nursing home residents. The first Regional Conference for nursing home social workers in the state of Massachusetts was launched under Ms. Griffin’s tenure as President of the Association.

She served for over sixteen years with the New Hampshire Office of the Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman. Beginning as a Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman, investigating complaints made on behalf of facility residents, she also served within the program as the Assistant State LTC Ombudsman, State LTC Ombudsman, Education Program Coordinator and Volunteer Program Coordinator. She was well known and active within the national elder advocacy community, serving on several national committees, participating on panels and presenting at national conferences of the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) and the National Association of State (LTC) Ombudsman Programs (NASOP).

A Memorial Celebration and Reception for Judith will be held Friday, June 10, 2011, at 4 pm at Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall Street, Concord, NH 03301. At Judith’s request, colorful, comfortable attire is suggested for the celebration. It is requested that flowers for the memorial service be sent directly to Concord Community Music School, or should friends desire, contributions may be sent in Judith’s memory to the Friends of New Hampshire Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman for the Judith D. Griffin Advocacy Award in care of Roger Vachon, 19 Centerwood Drive, Concord, NH 03301.