Stephentown, NY - Richard Michael Griffin, 79, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 31, after an extended battle with cancer. Born in East Lee, MA to parents Francis and Agnes Griffin, he resided in New Lebanon, NY. A talented athlete, he graduated in 1954 from New Lebanon High School. For more than 25 years he worked as a salesman for area car dealerships which included McClintock Chevrolet in Stephentown and Thomas Ford in New Lebanon. He retired as Regional Sales Manager at Hellawell Cadillac Oldsmobile in Pittsfield in 1981. In 1983 he married the former Joyce Therrien of Pittsfield. After living for many years in New Lebanon, they moved to Middlefield, MA and then returned to Stephentown. Upon retirement, he and his wife Joyce began restoring neglected houses into lovely homes. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stephentown, where he served on the parish council. After his wife and family, his other true love was acting. At age 65, he auditioned for and was cast in a small role in the play “Marvin’s Room” and a late-in-life career was born. Over the next 14 years, he performed in more than 20 plays with theater groups in Berkshire, Columbia and Rensselaer Counties, as well as the renowned Williamstown Theater Festival. He also took pleasure in performing as a member of the Mellodrama Singers. Richard was predeceased by his parents; a sister Genevieve (“Midge”) Griffin, and brothers Francis and David Griffin. He was a devoted and loving husband to Joyce Therrien Griffin; father to Colleen Genovese (Robert), Richard Griffin, Jr., and Tim Griffin (Colleen Lekov); step-father to Valerie Boatwright and Michael Bresette; grandfather to Melissa and Stacey Genovese, Alyssa Griffin and Shannon Griffin, Lillian Boatwright, and Colleen and Lauren Bresette; great-grandfather to Barbara Claire Boatwright; and uncle to Valerie Nackout and Michael Griffin. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 3, 2105 at 12 o’clock noon in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stephentown, NY. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown on Thursday, before the Mass, from 10 am to 11:30 pm. Memorial Contributions may be made to Sonsoni Animal Shelter, 63 Downing Industrial Park, Pittsfield, MA 01201, or to the Sand Lake Center for the Arts (SLCA), PO Box 179, 2880 NY 43, Averill Park, NY 12018.