MEMORIAL WALTER A. GRIFFIN BY LEWIS DEXTER
When Walter A. Griffin died on August 22, 1976 at the age of 102, he was believed to be the oldest practicing physician in the United States and he had been the perfect example of the finest of general practioners. He was what the American public long for-a wise, sage, and humane physician who not only looked after the whole family but cared for each and every one. He was born on August 22, 1874, received his B.A. degree Magna Cum Laude in 1897 after only three years at Harvard College and his M.D. degree three years later from the Harvard Medical School, class '00. In 1901, he planned to serve on the staff of the Sharon (Tuberculosis) Sanitarium for three months. He stayed in Sharon, Massachusetts for the next seventy-three years. In his early years he was especially interested in tuberculosis. He became a member of the American Clinical and Climatological Association in 1906 and with Dr. Vincent Y. Bowditch presented a paper at the 1907 meeting entitled "Subsequent Histories of One Hundred and Sixty 'Arrested Cases' of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treated at the Sharon Sanitarium 1891-1906." He was a discusser of a variety of papers at our meetings especially in the earlier years. Although his special interest was TB, he was a general practioner. He delivered most of the babies of the town of Sharon over the decades. He served for 66 years as school physician (1908-1974), the longest tenure in that position of any physician in the history of our country. All over the years he was a full-time practioner on call day and night including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. He was a long time member of the Medical Staff of the Norwood Hospital. He was much more than physician. He was a civic leader especially in regard to recreational facilities for children. He spent practically his last cent in 1930 for a playground which nobody seemed to want to play on until a High School was built adjacent whereat it became gratifyingly utilized. In 1931 he organized the Sharon Civic Association for the promotion of recreation for the townspeople. For many years he was tenor soloist and member of the choir at the First Congregational Church in Sharon. He was a twenty-year member of the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston. Among the many honors bestowed on him were a fifty year citation from the Sharon Civic Organization in 1952, the Sharon Civic Foundation tribute in 1959, the xxix
XXX
MEMORIAL
Town Meeting Testimonial Resolution in 1966, the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Award, the Rotary Award, the Salvation Army Camp Wonderland Citation, and the Camp Gannet citation. The town of Sharon held a celebration for Walter Griffin in 1974 when he was 100 years old. This was attended by several thousand Sharon-ites plus local and national dignitaries. When the chairman asked for those who had been delivered as babies by Dr. Griffin to rise, almost everyone arose. Walter Griffin's prescription for a long life was: no drinking, no smoking and regular exercise. He was a humble and modest person and a devoted humanitarian who worked long and hard for the welfare of his fellow man. He is survived by his wife, Helen.
When Walter A. Griffin died on August 22, 1976 at the age of 102, he was believed to be the oldest practicing physician in the United States and he had been the perfect example of the finest of general practioners. He was what the American public long for-a wise, sage, and humane physician who not only looked after the whole family but cared for each and every one. He was born on August 22, 1874, received his B.A. degree Magna Cum Laude in 1897 after only three years at Harvard College and his M.D. degree three years later from the Harvard Medical School, class '00. In 1901, he planned to serve on the staff of the Sharon (Tuberculosis) Sanitarium for three months. He stayed in Sharon, Massachusetts for the next seventy-three years. In his early years he was especially interested in tuberculosis. He became a member of the American Clinical and Climatological Association in 1906 and with Dr. Vincent Y. Bowditch presented a paper at the 1907 meeting entitled "Subsequent Histories of One Hundred and Sixty 'Arrested Cases' of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treated at the Sharon Sanitarium 1891-1906." He was a discusser of a variety of papers at our meetings especially in the earlier years. Although his special interest was TB, he was a general practioner. He delivered most of the babies of the town of Sharon over the decades. He served for 66 years as school physician (1908-1974), the longest tenure in that position of any physician in the history of our country. All over the years he was a full-time practioner on call day and night including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. He was a long time member of the Medical Staff of the Norwood Hospital. He was much more than physician. He was a civic leader especially in regard to recreational facilities for children. He spent practically his last cent in 1930 for a playground which nobody seemed to want to play on until a High School was built adjacent whereat it became gratifyingly utilized. In 1931 he organized the Sharon Civic Association for the promotion of recreation for the townspeople. For many years he was tenor soloist and member of the choir at the First Congregational Church in Sharon. He was a twenty-year member of the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston. Among the many honors bestowed on him were a fifty year citation from the Sharon Civic Organization in 1952, the Sharon Civic Foundation tribute in 1959, the xxix
XXX
MEMORIAL
Town Meeting Testimonial Resolution in 1966, the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Award, the Rotary Award, the Salvation Army Camp Wonderland Citation, and the Camp Gannet citation. The town of Sharon held a celebration for Walter Griffin in 1974 when he was 100 years old. This was attended by several thousand Sharon-ites plus local and national dignitaries. When the chairman asked for those who had been delivered as babies by Dr. Griffin to rise, almost everyone arose. Walter Griffin's prescription for a long life was: no drinking, no smoking and regular exercise. He was a humble and modest person and a devoted humanitarian who worked long and hard for the welfare of his fellow man. He is survived by his wife, Helen.
