PORTSMOUTH – Ruth Griffin, a pioneer in New Hampshire politics who was equally known in the city for her public activism, died Saturday at the age of 99.
“She died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. That was her wish and we made it possible,” said her daughter Joan.
Ruth Griffin was elected to and served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Senate, and Executive Council. She is a Republican legend in heavily Democratic Portsmouth, where a public housing building is named after her. She served on the board of the Portsmouth Housing Authority for 42 years, a term that lasted until 2020, the year she turned 95 and a parade was held in her honor. She served on the Executive Council for 30 years, ending in 2007.
She was present at the opening of PHA’s Ruth Lewin Griffin Place Apartments on Court Street in 2022. In 2018, Governor Chris Sununu successfully pushed for the Little Bay Bridge, which connects Dover and Newington, to be named the Ruth L. Griffin Bridge.
Republican presidential candidates had sought Griffin’s support for decades, especially in this first state to hold a primary. Griffin served two terms on the Republican National Committee, was a member of the Republican National Convention’s selection committee for the 2000 convention, and served as an RNC delegate many times since 1972.
Born on July 9, 1925, Griffin moved to Portsmouth from Fall River, Massachusetts in 1938. She was known for living in the farmhouse built by “Grandpa Griffin” in 1896 at the corner of Richards Avenue and South Street. She was known for the lambs and goats at what was known as Griffin’s Half Acre Farm, which was popular with locals who stopped by to see the animals.
After attending Portsmouth schools, she completed nursing school. She was elected to and served on the Portsmouth School Board and the Portsmouth Police Commission.
Stay tuned for more reports on Ruth Griffin’s death in the coming days. This report uses material from the Seacoastonline and Portsmouth Herald archives.
