1928 – 1994 (November 7)
William Joseph Griswold was born on June 18. 1928, in San Diego County, California, to Verner Lane Griswold. He was received into the novitiate in September, 1947, and pronounced simple vows on September 10, 1948. He was solemnly professed on the same day in 1952. Following studies, he was ordained to the priesthood in San Diego on August 24, 1954.
Father Griswold served his entire Augustinian life in the role of a teacher. He first taught at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, CA from 1957 to 1963. He then moved to Saint Augustine High School, San Diego, where he taught Latin and religion from 1963 until he entered limited service. For many of those years he was the freshman basketball coach. Students at Saints best remember him for what was known as “The Turtle Shop.” It was a small on-campus store where students would tender cash for snacks and commune with “Griz” as he was affectionately known. During his limited service, which began in 1981, the Turtle Shop remained open.
Father Griswold was involved in an automobile accident and died on November 7, 1994 in a San Diego hospital following a heart attack.
