Des Griffin, Kilkenny and Vancouver, was adoctor who put everything into helping his patients

Desmond ‘Des’ Griffin (84), born in Kilkenny, passed away on July 21, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. He survived multiple heart procedures but in his last years had vascular dementia.

He was proud of being a top ranked psychiatrist, practicing medicine until he was 76 years of age. Des always had a big smile (unless he knew you were taking his photo) and a grand story to tell. He loved life and had an incredibly positive spirit right up until his last day.

Desmond John Michael Griffin was born on November 18, 1938, to Rowland ‘Rolo’ Griffin and Gertrude ‘Gertie’ Banim Griffin at Weston, Kilkenny, Ireland. He attended and graduated from Clongowes Wood College SJ, a Catholic boarding school in Kildare.

Desmond went on to study at University College of Dublin, graduating from the school of medicine to become a doctor in general practice. Later, after moving to Canada, he got his advanced four-year degree at Queen’s University Canada and become a successful, beloved psychiatrist.

Des was set up with Joan Clare Marchut on a blind date by a mutual friend in Toronto. They married and went on to have two children, Alexandra (Alexi) Theresa Griffin (now Venneri) and Desmond (Ted) Edward Griffin. Joan unfortunately died far too young in 1980.

Proud
Desmond was very proud of his children and happy they both became self-made entrepreneurs like his father. He was thrilled that his daughter married Dave Venneri and a few years later that his son married Angela Green. He loved his three grandsons very much: Dryden Griffin (15), Ronin Griffin (13), and Griffin Venneri (12).

Des was an excellent doctor and put everything into helping his patients. He also loved fast cars, travel (especially staying in nice hotels), learning about history (especially Irish history), beautiful women (especially when they told him he looked younger than his age), telling stories, all his beloved dogs, catching up over a nice cup of coffee, and spending time with his children and grandsons.

Athlete
He was an excellent athlete who played rugby, hurling and golf. He also loved to watch and play tennis, placing second in the Irish Leinster Juniors Tennis Championship (even though he never had a tennis coach and he said he learned how to play by bouncing a tennis ball off the side wall of Weston).

He treasured his siblings Marie (the adventurous beauty queen and flight attendant), Gerald (his sage older brother that often got him out of jams when he was younger), Joan (his tennis doubles teammate and confidant) and Ann (his cute younger sister; he loved her visits to Canada). He retained his Irish passport and citizenship to his last day. A celebration of life for Desmond and his brother Gerald Griffin was held at Mount Juliet.

Predeceased by his mother Gertie and father Rolo, his sister Marie Henderson and his brother Gerald Griffin, Des is survived by his two sisters Joan Norris and Ann White, his children and grandchildren.