David John Harrowes Griffin

David John, Harrowes Griffin, 89, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on 27 October 2024. He was born to parents John Samuel Griffin and Williamina Milne Harrows, on 15 June 1935 in Cardiff, Wales. 

He graduated from Canton High School in circa 1953. He went on to study Chemistry at Imperial College and graduated as Bachelor of Science with Honors.

David did his National service as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force following this, David worked as an Administrative Secretary with the Royal Society for 30 plus years. . In 1974, David was part of the research team on Aldabra Island in the Seychelles and the team notably discovered a type of Lungfish that was thought to be extinct some 66 million years ago. His work took him around many continents of the world for which he was fluent in languages such as French, German, Russian, Japanese, and a little less so Welsh.

He retired from Royal Society in 1990. 

He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and served actively as Secretary and Treasurer 

David met Mary Galneder in circa 1973 and eventually married on March 1st 2003 in Wisconsin. They had no children and were devoted to each other until they died together at home on 27th October 2024. 

David is survived only by the children from the marriage of his Sister Elizabeth Payne (deceased 2011) 

The family has entrusted Informed Choice Funeral and Cremation Alternatives with the arrangements. No service will be carried out.