Earl R. "Buzz" Griffin

On July 12, 2014, Age 67, of Westmont, NJ. Beloved husband of 42 years to Cheryl Ann Griffin (Nee Kent). Loving father of Katrina C. Griffin of Odenton, MD and Russell M. Griffin of Westmont, NJ. Brother of Carol Cipriano of Hawley, PA. Also survived by several cousins and nephews.

Buzz was a long time resident of South Jersey and lived on Baker Avenue in Pennsauken, at Collwick in Delaware Twp/Cherry Hill, the Mt. Laurel Motel, Kingsway Village in Cherry Hill and in Westmont for over 50 years. He attended Moorestown Friends School and the Cartaret School in West Orange, N.J. He graduated with a degree in history from Windham College in Putney, VT, where he met Cheryl, the school nurse. He loved caring for his wife and children and enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. He was an avid Penn State, soccer, and Flyers Fan; loved classic and antique cars, and collecting beer memorabilia. In his younger years Buzz was known for doing knee-drops and driving like a wild man in cars and on motorcycles all over the Northeast.

One of the first house husbands of his time, Buzz cooked, cleaned, and took care of house-hold chores for his family. In 1982 he put an addition on the house at Lindisfarne Avenue and finished the inside. He was able to do plumbing, electrical work, and even crafted a "Lithuanian sheet-rock holder" so that he could move sheet-rock by himself from the first floor to the second. Buzz was also handy with cars and loved working on his 1970 Chevelle among others. It did not end there though, many hours were spent sitting on the living room floor crafting latch-hook rugs that hang in many homes today.

Christmas was absolutely his favorite holiday and he decked his homes out with style every year. He enjoyed being crafty and made many of his own Christmas ornaments and decorations. His most memorable Christmas gift to many were the glass Christmas trees he fashioned out of broken wine bottles, some even complete with lights.

Buzz was a veritable walking encyclopedia of information. One of his many passions was reading newspapers, magazines, websites, and history books. He loved sharing his wealth of knowledge with pretty much everyone and had a knack for remembering names, places, numbers, and events. His vast network of friends received numerous emails and letters with interesting articles and clippings.

If Buzz wasn't reading, he was baking. He baked for everyone he ever met and even those he never did. Every year that his children attended James P. Stoy Elementary School, Buzz baked pumpkin breads for every employee from the crossing guards and custodians, to the teachers. He made cakes and cookies for every party that any family member ever attended or hosted. He donated treats to the Haddon Township High School marching band for over 10 years; even continuing long after his children graduated. Cookies were baked by the thousands and breads by the hundreds. They arrived on birthdays and holidays in person, and in packages for those out of reach. Everyone will remember Buzz's treats and his overwhelming generosity.

His greatest passion however, was his family, who he loved dearly. He would have walked to the ends of the earth to make sure they wanted for nothing. Buzz was chef, chauffeur, caretaker, friend, and most excellent maker of "rat beds." He was extremely proud of his children; their accomplishments, and spoke about them to anyone and everyone.

Buzz tried valiantly to recover from the heart surgery he had on July 2, but his soul had other plans. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but never forgotten.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation Wednesday evening from 6 to 7:30 PM at JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, 308 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township, NJ, followed by his memorial service at 7:30PM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Buzz’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, 555 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511,www.holeinthewallgang.org/donate.