Carol Lee Griffin

Dr. Carol Lee Griffin passed away on March 7th after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was born and grew up in the Hough’s Neck section of Quincy, and she lived in Quincy for her entire life. She attended the Atherton Hough, Central and Quincy High Schools. She continued her education at Boston University where she received her AB, MA and PhD degrees in Counseling Psychology. Carol Lee graduated Phi Beta Kappa and did additional study at Boston College and Harvard University. She was the daughter of the late Carroll T. and Jeanette L. Griffin and is survived by brothers Thomas H. of Marco Island, FL and Steven E. and his wife Marge of Westwood, sister Jane L. of Boynton Beach, FL. and Quincy, and sister-in-law Norma Griffin of Marco Island, FL. Her sister, Nancy Griffin, predeceased her. She is survived also by several nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. Dr. Griffin worked at the South Shore Mental Health Center as Senior Psychologist and Director of Community Education where she served as a Mental Health Consultant to the Quincy Public Schools, and at Simmons College of Social Work as educational consultant. She began her work in the Quincy Public Schools as Director of Pupil Personnel Services in 1968 and continued as Assistant Superintendent of Schools until her retirement in 1997. After her retirement she served as Interim Head of the Woodward School for Girls in Quincy. Dr. Griffin conducted research at Simmons College School of Social Work in the areas of Identifying Pre-School Children at Risk, Self-Concept Attitudes toward Learning of Junior High Boys, and School Program Study. She was a member of the American Association for Counseling and Development, American Orthopsychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, and was elected trustee and officer of the National Association of Pupil Personnel Administrators. In the Quincy community, Dr. Griffin was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Quincy; Board member of Quincy Teen Mothers Program, City Hospital of Quincy, and Quincy Savings Bank; and was Incorporator of Survival, Inc. She served also on the Boards of Cerebral Palsy of the South Shore, Hough’s Neck Congregational Church, Thomas Crane Public Library and Protestant Social Service Bureau, and was a member of advisory committees for three mayors of the City of Quincy. Dr. Griffin was awarded a Service Award in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of gifted and talented education. She was named Woman of the Year by the Quincy Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was elected to the Collegiums of Distinguished Alumni of the College of Liberal Arts of Boston University. She was awarded Certificate of Appreciation by the National Association of Pupil Personnel Administrators for outstanding service and leadership. Her publications were included in the following magazines and journals: The Massachusetts Teacher, Personnel and Guidance Journal, The Guidance Clinic, Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, Leadership and Supervision in Special Series; Promising ideas and Practices, The Exceptional Parent, American Journal of Public Health, Social Work in Human services, Health Education, and Public Health Reports. Carol Lee was an inspiration to her younger siblings and encouraged them all to excel and seek higher education. She had many friends who were a great support during her illness: including but not limited to, Joan Kirby, Patricia DelVal, Carol Johnston, Diane Willard, Gloria Brummitt, and Joan Matthews. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 3-7 PM, March 16 in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. Funeral services will be celebrated on Saturday, March 17 at 11 AM in the Funeral Home. Burial will be private. Donations in Dr. Griffin’s memory can be made to the Carol Lee Griffin Scholarship Fund of the Quincy Retired Teachers Association at 590 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 02170.