Services For Beloved Teacher, Firefighter Donald Webb Griffin Set

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Hearts are heavy in Westhampton Beach as the many who loved him prepare to say farewell to a beloved teacher, firefighter, and veritable pillar of the community.

Donald Webb Griffin died on March 31 at his home in Westhampton Beach after losing his fight with cancer. He was 84 at the time of his death and would have been married 62 years on April 21.

Services will begin Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, located at 92 Sunset Ave. in Westhampton Beach. A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse.

Interment will take place Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m., with a procession to leave the Werner-Rothwell Funeral Home, located at 60 Mill Rd. in Westhampton Beach, at 10 a.m., to the Southampton Cemetery on North Sea Rd. in Southampton.

According to his obituary, Donald Griffin was born on December 11, 1943 in Southampton, NY. "He attended Southampton Public Schools, graduating in 1952. Excelling in sports, Don was the catcher on the 1951 baseball team, when Southampton won the Suffolk County Championship for the first time.

He graduated from Cortland State College in 1956 with a degree in health education. After graduation, he accepted a job teaching science in Westhampton Beach, where he started in the junior high school, and eventually taught biology in the high school, where he remained until his retirement 36 years later.

In 1957, Don married his high school 'sweetheart' May Frankenbach. They moved to Westhampton Beach where they raised their four children. Don loved teaching and coaching, including such sports as baseball and soccer. He also umpired baseball games for many years and kept the clock at basketball and wrestling matches. He was a member of the Westhampton Presbyterian Church for many years and served on the session as well as the trustees and deacons.

After his marriage, his second life commitment was to the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, where he served as a volunteer for over 60 years. During his time he was the President of the Benevolent Association, Treasurer, Driver, Fire Police and was a Fire Education Instructor. Other firemen often joked that he slept in his clothes, because he was usually the first responder to arrive at the firehouse.

Having a family was a priority, but having fun was important, too. He enjoyed boating and going to the beach with his family. Don and May also loved to travel and were avid campers who started in a tent and then eventually owned a Winnebago motorhome. Don and May were proud to boast that they slept in every state except Hawaii.

Don is survived by his wife, May and four children. Gail Klepper and husband Mark of Remsenburg, Greg Griffin of Southampton, Gaye Bugenhagen and husband Jay of Annapolis and Gini Wagner and husband Bryan of East Quogue. His brother Graham lives in Bridgehampton. He was also the proud PopPop to seven grandchildren (Jenna, Alyssa, David, Matt, Jake, Taylor and Griffin)."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to those charities close to his heart:
- Westhampton Beach Fire Department Benevolent Fund – mailed via check
- Westhampton Beach Fire Department Scholarship Fund – mailed via check
- The Hurricane Education Foundation – available online here.