Joseph  Edsel Griffin, age 88 departed this life peacefully on March 28, 2025. Joe was a husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and mentor to many. He greeted everyone he met with a huge smile and positive energy. 

Joseph’s life began in Bastrop, LA. He was the oldest son of twelve children born to Willie and Jotine Tharpe Griffin. In 1943, in search of new beginnings and hope for his children, Joe’s father, whom Joe held in high regard, moved the Griffin family from Bastrop to Alameda, California. Joe’s parents joined First AME Church in Oakland, where Joe remained active as a youth and adult. Joe completed his elementary and secondary education in Alameda. It was during these early years when he met Floyd Crump, at age 8, who was a steadfast friend throughout his life.  Both went on to attend Alameda High School where Joe, a two-sport star, earned four letters, All-League honors in both football and track, Student Athlete of the Year his senior year, as well as the school record for fastest time (14.5 sec) in the low hurdles which he has held for over forty years. 

Joe was also a well respected Captain of the 1954 Alameda High School track team which was the first Northern California high school to win the State Championship. Joe competed successfully with and against nationally recognized stars to include: James Jackson, Leamon King, Monte Upshaw, and Rafer Johnson. Joe was not only the Captain of his team he also a competed as a member of the 880 relay team which set a school record and won the event in the State Meet which solidified their Championship. Year after year, Joe won the legendary “Battle of the Bay” rivalry against Piedmont High School fiercest competitors on the track, Monte Upshaw. It was on one of those classic meets where Joe met his long life friend in Monte sparking a bond that endured for decades. Joe became a two-time inductee into the Alameda HS Athletic Hall of Fame for both his individual accomplishments and as a member of the State Champion Track Team. Joe was a pioneering African-American in Bay Area Athletics. The Griffin and Upshaw families struck up a friendship that ran as fast and true as both Joe & Monte. During the Alameda Project Housing closings in the middle fifties, it was Monte, as a High School Senior, who was instrumental in helping Joe’s parents locate and purchase the family home in Oakland, where The Griffin Family would live in for over 45 years.

Joe was heavily recruited by many West Coast colleges which include UC Berkeley, UCLA and the track powerhouse at the time, San Jose State. After a brief stint at UCLA, Joe became disenchanted with his decision. It was Monte and his father who convinced Joe to transfer to Cal.  Joe’s early successes in track at Cal garnered him an invite to the 1956 Olympic Trials along with the likes of other Cal greats like his good friends Monte Upshaw and Leamon King. Shortly after enrolling at Cal, Joe would join the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). By the time of his graduation he had risen to the rank of Commandant (the most senior officer in the Cal ROTC program). Upon graduation Joe accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. In 1959, Joe graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Science and later earned his MBA at Cal State Long Beach.

After a meaningful courtship, Joe married the love of his life, Ann Woolridge, a Berkeley native and Delta Sweetheart (even though Joe was the President of The U.C. Berkeley Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity chapter). After accepting his commission into the US Air Force, military life brought Joe and Ann Griffin to several Air Force communities, where their family grew alongside friendships forged on bases across the country. Long time friends for years from their military journey include but are not limited to: Bill & Molly Norwood (Neighbors at Connelly who became honorary “Uncle and Aunt” to the Griffin kids and God Parents to Kelly). Gene & Judy Talbot (Fellow bomber pilots and long time friends) and many more. Joe would ultimately attend Flight School where he graduated as a Navigator, promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC), one of the most prestigious units in the Air Force, flying B-52 bombers. After six years of service, Joe would resign his commission with the rank of Captain. Throughout his career, Joe and Ann lived in several parts of the country from Texas to California, eventually settling in Walnut Creek, the permanent family home.

Once back in the Bay Area, Joe began reestablishing his roots, with a strong emphasis on supporting his Alma Mater, UC Berkeley. His campus affiliations included the Big C Society, Big C President, Interim Athletic Director, Stiles Hall (affiliate), and the Black Alumni Club. Joe became a Trustee of the UC Berkeley Foundation in 1995 and is a recipient of the Trustees’ Citation, in recognition of his dedication to the University. He went on to become an Emeritus Trustee. Joe continued his corporate work with Crown Zellerbach as a Sales and Marketing Executive before transiting to Wisconsin Paper Company as an Area Executive and traveling the country. After leaving Wisconsin Paper, Joe started his own consulting company, Griffin and Associates, and distribution company, Premier Distributors. Before leaving to start his own firm, Joe enjoyed being a father to his three children Eric, Joe Jr. and Kelly. Joe would be regularly sighted cheering from the sidelines at Pop Warner games, swim and track meets, dance recitals, and engaging in any and all family events. A family guy at heart. Joe enjoyed playing tennis, was an EXPERT golfer, played a mean game of dominoes and liars dice (check Claremont for the facts). Speaking of Claremont, Joe was the first African American member of the Claremont Country Club where he was seen hitting his favorite clubs, comparing strokes with his fellow golfers, and holding court at his favorite table with his buddies and the staff he loved so much. It was Joe’s long time friend Monte whose family were generational members of the Claremont and recruited and sponsored Joe’s application for membership. Joe’s application for membership into the prestigious Club wasn’t just submitted—it made a statement. His character, achievements, and reputation spoke volumes, and the response was clear, Joe’s membership application was approved unanimously. His presence will always be felt throughout his family, friends and huge network of people that had the pleasure of knowing Joe. 

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