Kirk Andrew Griswold

Kirk was born to the late Helen M. and Robert R. Griswold Jr. in Pasadena, CA on September 6, 1952, a middle child with two sisters. They lived in a prize-winning home filled with his grandmother’s enamels and paintings, great food, and the multiple languages his parents studied. Kirk was a third-generation Californian and celebrated holidays with his extended Griswold family. His mother took the children to Laguna Beach for a few weeks each summer and to a cabin near Mammoth Lakes for hiking in the fall. Kirk had many happy memories of both and forever loved surfing, frisbee and napping on the beach. Kirk had a knack for developing and maintaining life-long friendships. His best buds lived a block from his home and their adventures were many. They are friends to this day.

Kirk attended Pasadena City College and finished his studies at UC Berkeley as his parents, aunts and uncles had done. He earned a B.S. in Psychology in 1975. After college, he picked up a tool belt and joined his best friend in building a custom home in Santa Barbara, CA. With these new skills and a talent for finish carpentry, he returned to Berkeley to remodel homes. In 1982, he became a general contractor. Kirk met Carla, by chance, in a dessert shop in San Francisco while enjoying chocolate cake. They married in 1983 and celebrated every anniversary thereafter with the same cake. In 1986 they moved to Seattle with a loaded U-Haul truck and two vehicles, to buy a home and raise their family.

Kirk and his family lived in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle for over thirty years. Passionate about craftsmanship and home ownership, he enjoyed a long career as a Real Estate Broker and a General Contractor. We joked that it’s a good thing he had that degree in Psychology! Among his many pleasures were helping his clients purchase, sell and remodel their homes. He took great pride in the client relationships he built as they were based on integrity, honesty, and kindness. His Fremont home was a work in progress the entire time, not a wall or a corner of the garden was left untouched by his skillful hands. The home was full of color and light and became a welcoming retreat to both his and Carla’s families for celebrations and holidays. He loved to sing, but didn’t begin until he was 28 when Carla pointed out his wonderful tenor voice. He sang in community chorus, the Wallingford UMC choir, and in two jazz quartets. He had a great time playing tennis, golf and poker with friends. Kirk shared his delight with smiles and laughter. He was usually the first on and last off the dance floor and karaoke stage. 

Kirk and Carla enjoyed sailing, river rafting, urban cycling and bike camping. They once cycled down California’s Hwy. 1 past Big Sur to attend a wedding in Santa Barbara. After rafting many rivers in Utah, one through the amazing Dinosaur National Monument, they began to travel further from home to check adventures off their bucket list. They sailed the Aegean near Turkey and Greece, twice travelled by small wooden boat in SE Alaska, visited National Parks in the Southwest and Montana, and finally rafted the fabled Rogue River in Oregon. He enjoyed it all. 

Kirk was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be deeply missed. He passed away on November 23, 2024 on Bainbridge Island, WA after living with early onset Alzheimer’s disease for many years. He was comforted at bedside by his family, a vase of yellow lilies, harp music, and a window open for his flight. The family is very grateful to the staff of Fieldstone Memory Care on Bainbridge Island for their extraordinary care and friendship to Kirk the past two years and to Envision Hospice for walking the last mile with him.

He was predeceased by his parents and sisters Lisa Griswold and Krista Griswold Malihi. All are interred at Evergreen Washelli in Seattle, where his maternal grandparents are also buried. Surviving him are his wife, Carla T. Griswold of Bainbridge Island, WA, Geneva Griswold and Aley Thompson of Seattle, Peter and Kate Griswold of Kingston, WA, and grandchildren, Hudson and Murphie Griswold. Left to honor his memory are many cousins, nieces and nephews. Private services will be held. A recording of Kirk’s Celebration of Life will be found here: tinyurl.com/kirkgriswoldrecording

In memory of Kirk Griswold, please consider making a donation to these organizations- 

In hopes of a cure, Kirk donated his brain to the University of Washington Alzheimer Disease Research Center. Please consider supporting their research: https://depts.washington.edu/mbwc/be-involved/make-a-gift

Kirk was also passionate about Habitat for Humanity’s work: https://www.habitatskc.org/how-to-help/donate/