William Herbert Griswold, of East Windsor, passed away on Sept. 7, at the age of 94. Born in Hartford in 1928, he attended Windsor Locks High School, where he played basketball and was vice president of his graduating class in 1946. He attended Hillyer College, joined the Connecticut Air National Guard and then attended the University of Hartford where he earned a bachelor’s degree in math and later, a master’s degree in business education. He moved to Granby with his wife, Joan, and took a teaching job at the newly established Granby Memorial High School where he would teach for over 30 years.
While he preferred to be called Griz, he was known to Granby students as Mr. Griswold, and he never lost touch with them. Many senior classes benefitted from his guidance as their adviser. He was invited to more high school reunions than can be counted, and he attended most of them sharing memories and laughter. The first graduating classes from GMHS, 1958–1961, hold joint reunions as the First Four and Griz celebrated all their milestone graduation anniversaries. They will miss him.
Many recall the experiences they shared with their new puppy in Bill Griswold’s Dog Training Classes. His love of dogs and teaching them began in high school and led to a 40-year-long avocation using American Kennel Club training standards.
He and his second wife of 38 years, Alice, exchanged their home for full-time RV living in 1988, and traveled extensively for years, visiting 49 states—Hawaii being the only one missed. Griz was 93 when they shared their last on-the-road adventure.
Griz loved teaching, he loved sharing laughter, he loved dogs, he loved travel, he loved his family. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.