By the family
May 22, 2024: Scott Griffith, 86, died after a short illness in Castres, France.
Scott lived his life in three acts: in the United States, in Scotland, and in France.
Born in NYC to Lewis and Rosine Chase Griffith, his father, as a military school graduate, was called early back into the Army before our country's engagement in WWII, and the family spent the war years in various Army bases in the South. They returned to live in Bronxville in 1946, the family now including a brother Chase and a sister Lucy. They lived with their grandfather in the house which he had built in 1907 on Summit Avenue, the first house on that street. Scott was in the fourth grade.
Later in his school years he met and became lifelong friends with Inge Heckel, Nancy (Tegen) Vandenboorn and Tony Harwood, with whom he travelled. He graduated from BHS in 1955. While Scott spent only his early childhood in the South, his family was largely Southern, from Virginia and South Carolina, and he would identify as "a Southerner" all his life.
As his Father had done, Scott entered the Virginia Military Institute, but was expelled the first year for a curfew violation. Joining the Marine Corps, he spent time in Japan and returned to complete his education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. It was there that he discovered his love of the English language and of literature.
He forged close, lifelong friendships there with Lind Earle, Norton Tennille and Frank Nye. In 1960, while part of a summer program for the Institute of International Education, he studied in Edinburgh, Scotland, and there met his first wife, Ann Stewart of Connecticut. They married in 1961 and determined to raise a family in Edinburgh, having found there a progressive scene to speak of the arts and of books. Ann gave birth to their son Ian in 1963 and to daughter Sara in 1966.
Once Scott completed his certification in education at the University of Edinburgh, he worked as an English teacher in Kirkcaldy, West Calder and as head teacher at Liberton High School, "an American teaching English to the Scots."
In 1980, he and Ann separated. And in 1982 he met his second wife, Barbara Phelps, another American. They would spend the next forty years together.
Taking early retirement, Scott and Barbara found a 16th century bergerie, or barn, in the Languedoc region of southern France. The renovation of the building was his delight...pointing walls, adding bookshelves and heat. He became active in the community, joining the chorale that sang in the 10th century cathedral of St. Pons. Scott dedicated many hours to good reading, relishing the local food and wines, maintaining his hedges and growing fruits and vegetables.
Barbara predeceased Scott in 2022. He died from complications of pneumonia.
Along with family and friends he leaves behind his son Ian, of Boston, MA, daughter Sara of London, England, sister Lucy of Darlington, SC , daughter-in-law Peggy, and five grandchildren. He will be missed. And may he rest in peace.
Contributions in Scott's memory may be made to the Altzheimer's Foundation, Earth Justice or The Scottish European Education Trust
