Word came yesterday that Ron Griffith, former Planning Commission member and co-founder of Just Food Co-op, died peacefully at home in the company of his family. Ron had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 28; the details will be determined later. Ron’s family is requesting that people donate to the Ron Griffith Young Leaders Fund (blogged here earlier) in lieu of flowers.
Councillor Betsey Buckheit paid tribute to Ron on her blog, and the notice in the Northfield News provides some brief biographical information about this wonderful man, whom I felt very fortunate to know. (continued)
An email from Ron’s wife, Beret, contained this poem by Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet:
ON THE DAY I DIE
On the day I die, when I’m being carried
toward the grave, don’t weep. Don’t say,
‘He’s gone! He’s gone.” Death has nothing
to do with going away. The sun sets and
the moon sets, but they’re not gone.
Death is a coming together. The tomb
looks like a prison, but it’s really
release from union. The human seed goes
down in the ground like a bucket into
the well where Joseph is. It grows and
comes up full of some unimagined beauty
Your mouth closes here and immediately
opens with a shout of joy there.
Ron, thank you for your service to this community, and for the impact that your life and character had on many of us. You will be greatly missed.
Griff Wigley
Kiffi Summa
Patrick Enders
David Ludescher
Tracy Davis
Bright Spencer
Michelle Hawkins
Phil Poyner
Ross Currier
John S. Thomas
David Koenig
Jane McWilliams
William Siemers
Carol Overland
Ray Cox
Rob Hardy
Sean Hayford O'Leary
john george
norman butler
Kathie Galotti
Jane Moline
Anne Sawyer
Liz Messner
David Beimers
Jim Haas
mike paulsen
Scott Oney
Barb Kuhlman
Bruce W. Morlan
David Roberts
Bill Ostrem
Dan Bergeson
Daniel Edwins
Hayes Scriven
Kristin Partlo
linda seebach
Paul Zorn
Randy Jennings
Sandy Vesledahl
Steve Wilmot
Chris Daly
Curt Benson
Eric Sieger
Jessica Paxton
Josh Dale
Joshua Dale
Kathleen Jasnoch
Mary Closner
Nathan E. Kuhlman
Tom Swift
victor summa
A.Ripka
Ally Beyer
Arlen Malecha
Athena Currier
Bart de Malignon
Bruce Wiskus
Christian Hakala
Corrie Erickson
Dave Machacek
David Henson
Don Haugo
Efie Foulidis
Erica Zweifel
Felicity Enders
Jeanette Nelson
Jeff Meidinger
Julie Bixby
Leota Goodney
Lisa Gaetjens
malcolm watt
Marie Fischer
Mary Schier
Penny Hillemann
Robert Palmquist
Stephanie Henriksen
Tim Freeland
Ron taught me a little about business and a lot about being a human being.
I feel truly blessed; I worked with Ron on Just Food, I learned with Ron as a Blandin Leader, I served with Ron on the Planning Commission, and I appreciated life with Ron as a dear friend.
I’m thinking he’s already implementing his carefully researched plans in the next great thing.
I only met Ron one time, but I was instantly impressed with his intelligence, his character, and his unselfish committment to things he cared about. I was saddened by news of his death in a way not justified by the limited contact I had with him. I think it’s because, when it comes to consideration of what we can reasonably hope to accomplish on this earth, Ron was an example of the best we can do.
Great post, Tracy. I’ll be ever grateful to Ron for his part in the creation of Just Food Co-op.
I found 4 more photos of Ron from my archives: 3 from his presentation at the Just Food Co-op preview held at the First UCC back in April of 2004 and 1 from the grand opening later that year in Dec.
Griff, thank you for taking the time to dig up these photos. I loved seeing Ron in action in the community.
Northfield seems to draw extraordinary people here to spend their retirement years. Beret and Ron exemplify this – as both have brought their many talents and skills to bear on our lives since moving to town.
Ron’s years in Northfield have made an impression much larger than his relatively short time here might suggest. One public example is how he exerted his business smarts and his gently persuasive ideas in creating and sustaining the Just food Coop. There are many less public ways he made a difference, as people who know him can recall with admiration.
Just importantly, Ron has been a friend – always interested in and respectful of the people he came to know. I believe this will be his enduing legacy.
Here is Ron Griffith’s obituary on Northfield.org
I wish that all of us investor’s in Just Food would get them to add a little piece in front of their name, changing it to “RON’S Just Food” . It never would have happened without him; the will was there, but Ron brought the business expertise to realize the reality.
Can’t we change the name to “RON’S Just Food” ?
Ron’s energy, commitment and enthusiasm inspired many of us. There were many people crucial to the openning of Just Food Co-op, but we likely wouldn’t have succeeded yet without the determination and skills of Ron and Beret. I posted some old photos on the Just Food site (I don’t know how to here).
I saw Ron in action through his work for the Planning Commission and Just Food, and I appreciated his ability to inspire people and to clarify complex issues. I was also fortunate to be a fellow member with Ron at the United Methodist Church of Northfield. Ron and Beret helped us to found a Creation Care Ministries team, or “green team,” in the last year. We were just getting started when we lost Ron. I will miss you, Ron.