Obituary: Richard A. Grifenhagen
Richard Alan Grifenhagen, formerly of Columbus, Ga., died Nov. 12 at The Cohen Home, Johns Creek, Ga.
Richard Alan Grifenhagen, formerly of Columbus, Ga., died Nov. 12 at The Cohen Home, Johns Creek, Ga.
Richard was born on July 29, 1932, in New York, N.Y., to Joseph and Pauline Gross Grifenhagen. The family moved to West Hartford, Conn., where Richard attended Hall High School. His involvement in scouting culminated in becoming an Eagle Scout at age 16. He received an appointment to the United State Military Academy at West Point from then-Congressman Abraham Ribicoff, graduated in 1954, and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant.
Before long, a young woman by the name of Vera Katz caught his eye at a dance at Columbus, Ga.’s Temple Israel, while Richard was in Jump School at Ft. Benning. The two were married in 1955. Shortly thereafter, Richard was deployed to Korea, where he was part of a U.S. peacekeeping force. He completed his active-duty service at Ft. Bragg and was a National Guardsman for six years.
Richard and Vera returned to Columbus, where they made their permanent home. Taking the reins from father-in-law Sol Katz, Richard became a successful local merchant, operating the popular Katz Home Fashions. He served as a past president of the Columbus Square Mall and Peachtree Mall Merchants Associations.
Their family grew over the next several years to include daughter Joan and sons Stuart and Edward. They were active members of Shearith Israel Synagogue and Temple Israel. Richard was a past president and vice president at the synagogue and a member of the Temple board of directors. His religious outreach also extended to servicemen stationed at Ft. Benning, where he and Vera were part of a team offering food and fellowship Sunday mornings for several years. He also dedicated time to the Jewish War Veterans of America and local youth sports programs, as well as acting as a marshal at Bull Creek Golf Course. In retirement, his business acumen was put to use as a business consultant for the Columbus Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Pauline Grifenhagen. He is survived by his wife, Vera, a brother, Bill (Gloria) Grifenhagen, children Joan (Art) Flaks, Stuart (Diane) Grifenhagen and Edward (Susan) Grifenhagen; eight grandchildren: Noah (Renee) Flaks, Joseph (Amanda) Flaks, Rachael (Jamie Boyd) Flaks, Melissa (Rylan) Wade, Jenny (Kevin) Bach, Benjamin (Hannah) Grifenhagen, Zachary (Kelly) Grifenhagen and Will (Amelia) Grifenhagen; eight great-grandchildren: Nathan Flaks, Ari and Margot Flaks, Jasper Boyd, Harper Wade, Madeline Bach and Zachary and Caroline Grifenhagen; niece Susan Willner, nephew Clifford Allan Willner, nieces Laura (Peter) Zhiss and Shara (Eyal) Ellenbogen and nephew Jonah (Jill) Grifenhagen and their children: Max, Ben and Sam Zhiss, Oz and Shalev Ellenbogen and Linus and Mabel Grifenhagen. A memorial service was held on Nov. 15 at Temple Israel, followed by a graveside service.
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