"I just discovered Tom's obituary while looking for photos for my Facebook Page (Lester M. Fisher). Although Tom and Gene and I lost contract back in the 1970s, I have always had great respect for both of them. In fact, I wrote about him and Gene in my memoir Happenstance by Lester Fisher, and then after I returned from Peace Corps I reestablishes contact with the Griffith family, was married to my Kenyan wife, Charity Klungness, while living in his rental house in 1972. That part of our association is covered in the second volume of my memoir Against the Tide by Lester Fisher. It is fascinating to read what an amazing life your father an mother led. I will always remember the impact they had on my life. And I am pleased to know that he lived until 2018. He was a very well intentioned man, who, I am sure, helped many others like myself. I Made an effort to contact Roy and Ruth Gillette but I am so sorry I did not keep in touch with Tom and Gene."
In loving memory of
Thomas Clark Griffith
March 27, 1933 - April 17, 2018
Thomas Clark Griffith: March 27, 1933 - April 17, 2018
Tom, 85, passed away peacefully April 17, 2018 while under the care of Evergreen Health Hospice. Originally from Boone, Iowa, Tom was raised in Argentine, Kansas by his father, Alfred Eugene Griffith, and mother, Madeline Lucille Ayres Griffith. He followed his brothers, Robert and Richard, into military service after high school. From the Navy, Tom attended the University of Washington and met and married Jean Wilmot and they raised five children. He graduated with degrees in Sociology and Far Eastern Studies and attained his Masters Degree in Counseling. Locally, Tom worked at Luther Burbank Home for Boys, and was a high school counselor and teacher in the Seattle Public Schools, primarily at Chief Sealth High School, from 1960-1973. Tom then moved his family to Beirut, Lebanon where he was a school counselor and tennis coach at the American Community School. Evacuated during the civil war in Lebanon, Tom, his wife and two youngest girls fled to Jordan. In March of 1976 Tom moved his family to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he was orientation coordinator for King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. He went on to be deputy superintendent of the Riyadh International School, and then worked for the Saudi Arabian Food Establishment, which ran programs to provide school lunches for Saudi children. The family returned to Seattle the spring of 1980. Tom then wrote a book, Sound the Alarm from Saudi Arabia, while he delivered papers for the Seattle Times. Tom returned to the Seattle Public Schools and counseled at Sharples and John Marshall Alternative High Schools, and also taught night school until August 2004.
Tom was active in his church and faith community and instrumental in starting home fellowships in Seattle's University District. He also helped start a Christian bookstore, The Alternative, once located on University Ave. He and his wife hosted international students and often had students live in their home with their family, both in Seattle and Beirut.
Tom had a passion for writing and sent out letters and articles about social justice issues and current events. He had a heart for Muslims to recognize the Risen Christ and spent his latter years writing to leaders and Muslim student organizations to reevaluate what the Koran was teaching about Jesus.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents in 1984; his wife, Jean, in June 1994; his brother, Bob Griffith, in June 2010; his great grandson, Henry Chambers, in March 2016.
Tom is survived by his brother Richard Griffith (Jean) of Olathe, Kansas; his children, Deborah Griffith Houston (Barry), Susan Griffith (Drew Fillipo), Philip Griffith of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Carol Griffith Konswa (Sam), and Terri Griffith (Gary Sink); grandchildren, John "JT" Chambers (Krystal), McKenzie Chambers, Anna and Isabell Griffith Fillipo, Madeline, Suzanne and Christine Konswa; great grandson Oliver Chambers, and nieces and nephews in Kansas, California, Alabama and Mexico.
A time of celebration and remembrance will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 7PM at Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125.
In lieu of flowers and gifts please make donations to Lutheran Peace Fellowship (LPF), a nonprofit organization with a rich history of providing expertise and support to peacemakers and justice seekers, https://www.lutheranpeace.org/, or the Alzheimer's Foundation. https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/.
Words of comfort may be expressed for Thomas' family by clicking on the tribute tab above.
Tributes
"I was blessed to have Tom as my foster Dad and High school counselor, because of Tom's love, care and Teachings I learned to Trust again after having gone through my teenage struggles in life (at age 14- I'm now 47) Tom left his footprints ? in my heart, mind and soul ?? I'm forever Grateful to him for his lovely kind humble heart and all his teachings about mindfulness, life in general and teachings about Jesus Sacrifice and agape love towards us. Tom was such an amazing lovely soul that resemble Christ in many ways, he was humble, kind, honest, courageous, caring, patient, forgiving, obedient, hard working, transparent, a giver, full of wisdom, very compassionate, very respectful, he always put himself in other people shoes, he was a great problem solver, full of empathy and love towards everyone and every problem handle to him. Tom was so full of wisdom and he was very courageous, he spoke up about human rights for marginalized families. He believed in equality. I know God is Very Proud of Tom for his courage, loyalty and obedience in helping spread God's word, love, wisdom, mercy and grace to all his children. Tom served his King Well ????? R.I.P. Tom Your Gone but You'll NEVER Be Forgotten. "Love You" Teresa, the lost child you helped raise. I'm Forever Grateful to You and Jesus for Saving My Heart-Mind-Soul-Spirit??? Te Amo!"
"I stumbled across Tom's book, Sound the Alarm, at a bookstore in the U district and wrote him a letter from the submarine base in Bangor. Tom wrote me back and invited me for dinner with the family. This was in 1983 and I was a long way from home. I will forever appreciate the hospitality and kindness of the Griffith family."
"May God bestow his grace upon Tom Griffith for all the good works he's done and for writing the truth."
"Tom Griffith always influenced people toward God. Returning to his room from the dorm shower in 1954, he walked uninvited through my open door asking if I was a Christian? upon seeing my girl-friend?s picture mention of Christ. Tom?s dorm roommate, atheist Joe Young, eventually broke down to Tom?s insistence that he should read the evidence about God and Christ and soon declared it to be true. Ten years later, Tom and wife Jean were the pioneering-visionary-hospitality team that invited lots of us, friends and strangers, into their home and hearts for worship and fellowship: the beginning of what became University Fellowship. Touching and sending people all over the world, including their own dear family. Tom and his family have challenged and enriched Mona and me in profound and eternal ways. We are thankful! "
"The Griffiths are still uncle Tom and aunt Jean to our kids now in their 30s and 40s all because of the loving way their family included is in Saudi Arabia. Tom would play his "Would you rather be a this or a that profession" with each of them affirming each choice no matter how young."
"Always dedicated to the work of the Lord and his love for people. Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Mt 25:23. You will be missed greatly for your wisdom, charm and great humor."
"I am very grateful for the ways Tom impacted my life as a young adult. I am not the same because of it. 1. He stretched me to live life outside my boxes for the sake of the kingdom. One time he planted the seed to consider teaching The Bible As Literature in Seattle Public Schools. I was a biology teacher and my first response was NO. But after re-considering and with the help of Angie Burchette, I did and am not the same because of that experience. 2. When I entered the university, I had come with the idea I would never marry. The many talks Terry and I had in their living room made a huge difference. 3. Tom was instrumental with helping us live life close to the door of the kingdom, aware and reaching out to the lost around us. Many memories of living in Beirut together both with Tom and Jean and the kids, buying a house together, canning 60 quarts of pickles with Jean. Bless Tom for how his love of people and unique vision for more stretched so many of us and helped move us on. "
"Tom leaves a rich legacy in the lives of many of us, from sitting on the floor of his home in the U. District worshipping the Lord, helping to start the Alternative bookstore on the Ave and even getting involved in easing a UW football racial crisis so long ago. His Middle East experiences conditioned his life with his interest and incessant work to share Jesus with the Muslim world in unique ways. Perhaps we will find out one day the many people he touched for good during a long life of service to so many. Lloyd Johnson"
"Dave and Linda Reynolds (Green Bay, WI) We just heard about Tom's passing. Tom's heart for Muslims left a powerful impression on us. Tom was an unconventional thinker, courageous and passionate. I am sure right now he is entering the joy of his Master, having heard "Well done, good and faithful servant!""
"We will remember Tom for his input in the Alternative Book Store and his great love for the Muslim people. He was a man who really loved the Lord. Praying for comfort for his family. "
"Thomas was a dear friend from as far back as the late sixties and early seventies in Lebanon. He communicated regularly and shared his passions with me. I admired his love for the Lord and his desire to share the truth with peoples of the World especially the Middle East. Thomas is a loss to the Missionary community. May the Lord comfort his family and friends."
"I worked with Tom at South Lake Alternative High School (when it was housed at Sharples), He was a wonderful man and will be missed."
"Over 50 years ago Tom was the chaperon for a youth mission trip to Chicago. We took the train which gave me three days to become acquainted with Tom. I found him to be very intense, honest and a good listener. I liked him immediately! We have had many conversations over the intervening years. Most recently he called me up in tipical Tom fashion to invite me to his memorial. His intensity reminded me of Caleb from the Bible who at 85 asked God "to give me this mountain" He will be missed! "
"Such great memories of Tom and the family...My sincere condolences to you all as you process this season of mourning. I know that Tom had a great love for family and friends--along with a unique calling to share Christ with those who had yet to discover a loving God who desired to be in relationship with mankind through faith and trust in Him--not performance. I also remember The Alternative on "The Ave"--had no idea that this was Tom's fault! I do trust you will hold to the memories of a great father, grandpa, friend and neighbor. And an amazing paper carrier for The Seattle Times..."
"I owe Tom (and Jean and the family) a great debt for their care over me when I was a young Christian believer during my undergraduate days at the University of Washington. In those days I had a room in the basement of their home on 20th Avenue NE and lived with them as a family member. Their care for me and the pattern of their living has affected me to this day. In 2016, I got reacquainted with Tom after a lapse of more than 40 years and until early this year, except for some gaps when he couldn't make it, we enjoyed rich times of prayer and -fellowship on an almost weekly basis. A verse we enjoyed again and again is Jeremiah 15:16 - "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word became to me the gladness and joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Jehovah, God of hosts." I am sad he is gone but I rejoice that his earthly sufferings are over and that he is with our Lord whom he loved so dearly. "
"We have been blessed by Tom (and earlier Jean's) friendship. Tom was fully present each time we visited and this can be rare nowadays. Our conversations were always kingdom related. Tom had a way of helping people work through what is important and what is just noise. He had a true gift this way. We are grateful for having had Tom as a friend in our lives. Rest in God's peace friend. "
"I met Tom when I started the Bright Future Program at John Marshall Alternative School in 1998. Tom was the first Seattle Public School Counselor who recognized the value of the program and referred students to the program. Today many of those students are doing very well because of Tom. We continued our friendship through out years. He was a friend, a colleague, and a father figure to me. I will miss his phone calls. Rest in Peace Mr. Griffith. Reza Khastou"
"I will miss the phone calls from this man the last few years. A beloved counselor at John Marshall High School who spent all the time needed with a student regardless of class times or a line waiting on the chairs in the outer office ! Countless students went on to higher schooling after speaking to him with his solid advice...a community college for the first 2 years is perhaps just as well as starting at a 4 year....Rest in peace, my friend. Eileen, His Counseling Secretary"