Category: George Griggs

 

Remembering the Loss of Our Friend, George L. Griggs (1949-2014) Founder, Motor City Radio Flashbacks

 

 

A Final Thought in Closing Out 2014

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DETROIT (December 31) — Since November 6, 2013, when we first began tabulating the number of hits here, this website has experienced the successes you’ve enjoyed by your visits and stays at Motor City Radio Flashbacks. Just shy under an amazing three million website pages hits. Thank you.

On that note I am pleased to inform you we’ve experienced a most extraordinary year — a year soon having passed in the next 24-hours — by your recurring stops here on Motor City Radio Flashbacks throughout this past year.

But on a sad note it has been a difficult 2014 year, here, as well. Sadly, and with much regret it was announced here when we lost our dear friend. The one man who, in part, was responsible for creating and bringing this website to us here today, it’s founder, George Griggs.

Many of you did not know. Within three months into the new year, 2014, and much to my dismay then in learning the sudden, bad news, I recall my stunned reaction when George personally informed me he had prostate cancer.

While some may or may not have noticed, it was during a stretch George was for the most part visibly absent here. During those days he was undergoing medical treatments to eradicate the cancer. That was sometime beginning in March, through June, earlier in the year. After having gone through 8-10-weeks of medical treatments to kill the disease, we were both elated, relieved with the final good news the outcome was a clean success.

But shortly sometime in the ensuing weeks thereafter, after some time having passed, I noticed George was not participating much on the website again.

I last saw George in mid-August, having met at a restaurant engagement planned with our other longtime friend, our other “Detroit radio” friend, Greg Innis. While I thought he looked well at the time, he confined in us he hasn’t been feeling well for several weeks, then. He later needlessly apologized in an email he sent me for “not having felt too well” as he related later on, that he had “other things going on in his mind,” as he stated, during our lunch meet that one afternoon.

Sometime later George would email me this message, dated, September 4. As quoted in part, below —

Having becoming too ill and no longer able to contribute to the website, he posted his last feature on September 29, 2014.

Surrounded by his immediate family, his wife, Patty, his son, Scott, and daughter, Gina, George Griggs peacefully passed away in his home while in hospice care, Tuesday morning, October 28, 2014.

In wake of his recent passing a void is felt in our lives today.

On a more personal side, I am grateful to have known him as a true friend. A friend I found to be humorous. A friend I found to be gracious, caring, and loving. First and foremost towards his family, likewise, towards his closest friends. The same George I’ve come to know throughout the past nineteen years.

As Art Vuolo succinctly termed it well, George Griggs is the “Keeper Of The Radio Flame.”

It has been 63 days now. George Griggs is invisible as he is silent. But he remains vibrant here on this site, in our hearts and in our thoughts with every passing day. He may be gone. But he is not forgotten.

In closing, we knew about his established love for Detroit radio and its history will live on. Here on his website. We shall carry on in his memory.

To our good friend, farewell . . . . farewell George. May you rest forevermore in God’s heavenly peace.

Jim Feliciano

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 12:10 a.m.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF GEORGE GRIGGS

 

 

 

It is with much sorrow and with great regret we wish to inform our friends here, George Griggs, curator of Motor City Radio Flashbacks, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, October 28, 2014. He was 65.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. We will provide further information, here, as they become available.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 2:54 P.M.

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HARRY J. WILL FUNERAL HOMES | 37000 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia, MI 48152  734-591-3700

 

In Memory of

George Griggs
April 23, 1949 – October 28, 2014

Obituary

George “Butch” Griggs passed away on October 28, 2014 at his home with his family by his side. He was 65 years old. George was born April 23, 1949, in Detroit, to Mary (nee Perrin) and George M. Griggs.

George was a dedicated member of the United States Air Force before becoming a lab technician and scheduler for the Ford Motor Company.

George is survived by his loving wife Patricia of 39 years. His son Scott (Teresa) and daughter Gina (Geoff) Novack. His sisters Diane (Daniel) Giesin and Karen (Hilton) Ehrisman. His brother-in-law Gary (Dawn) Pedinelli, his nieces Rebecca Kolbicz, Danielle Giesin, Alessandra Pedinelli, and nephew Antonio Pedinelli.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 30, 2014, from 2 to 8pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Road, in Livonia. A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, October 31, 2014 at 11am at Harry J. Will Funeral Home. Friends may visit the funeral home on Friday beginning at 10am.

HARRY J. WILL FUNERAL HOMES

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 7:34 P.M

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KEEPER OF THE RADIO FLAME

Reflections by Art Vuolo, Jr.

George L. Griggs, 65 has passed away, as reported in michiguide.com on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, he was only 65.

In recent weeks he had been fighting lung cancer, even though in over twenty years that I called George a close friend, I never saw him with a cigarette. People call me a radio archivist, but it was George, who in concert with Scott MacKinnon and a few other broadcast enthusiasts who started an amazing web site originally called “Detroit Radio Flashbacks” it is now known as “Motor City Radio Flashbacks” but is best accessed by the initials www.mcrfb.com.

It represents many years of his collecting audio clips and memorabilia from Detroit area stations, dating back the late 1950’s. He was an amazing man and I will miss him terribly.

Please visit the web site he founded at www.mcrfb.com for photos and audio memories.

The Detroit Radio community has lost the true “Keeper of the Flame” to the Motor City’s radio glory years. George may be gone, but his efforts and the signal will go on for years to come. Rest in Peace my friend.

Art Vuolo, Jr.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 7:47 P.M.