Francestown, NH – Stephen Bryant Griffin, age 84, of Francestown, NH died on July 29, 2026 in his library, surrounded by his wife of 59 years, Janet English Griffin, his son, Chad Winthrop Griffin of New York City, NY, and his daughter, Lark Evangeline Preyapongpisan of Carnation, WA.
Stephen Griffin was born July 1, 1942, the second of three boys, to his parents Frieda Mignon Griffin (nee Bryant) and Hobart Winthrop Griffin of New Albany, Indiana, both of whom predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his older brother John Hobart Griffin of Chevy Chase, MD. He is survived by his younger brother, Peter Bourne Griffin of Harpswell, ME, and his two grandchildren, Kayleigh Blodwyn Griffin, and Angus Griffin Preyapongpisan.
Steve grew up in Aiken, South Carolina with summers spent with family in East Orleans on Cape Cod. It was there as children that he and his brothers learned to sail on gaff-rigged Beatle Cats; wide-bodied wooden boats with a shallow draft, perfect for the sandbars of the Cape. These summers spawned a love of sailing that would last all three brothers their entire lives.
Steve went to University of North Carolina (UNC) for a degree in architecture. He met Janet Marie English while getting his Masters in City Planning at UNC and they married in 1967. Their son Chad was born late the following year in Cherry Point, NC. Steve would miss the first three years of his son’s life as he served as a Naval officer in Vietnam from 1969-1971. After his military service, he made up for lost time by acquiring a 2nd masters degree in economic development and moving to Charlotte, NC where his daughter Lark was born.
During the 1970s, he was a key city planner on the landmark urban transformation project of 4th Ward in Charlotte, NC. This success led to a position in the Southwest as the Director of Development for the city of Mesa, Arizona. In 1987, he returned to the East where he and Janet eventually settled in Francestown, NH and he became the town manager for Goffstown, NH.
During his life he also designed and built several houses, innovating with passive solar heating and solar panels, long before the infrastructure was there to support it.
He retired in 2010 offering his years of professional experience on many village boards, traveling with a team of urban planners to China to promote walkable cities, volunteering for village events, and assisting neighbors so they could age at home. Steve liked a project, believed in community, and was generous with his time.
In addition to broom making at Canterbury and pottery making, Steve loved traveling and reading. He was a loyal friend, a supportive father, and a loving husband. He will be missed tremendously.
Fair winds and following seas.
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