Life After Tappan Zee

Ralph C. Griswold - aka Charlie

1956 Graduation Picture	Recent Picture

My wife, formally Audrey Gordon, and I currently live in Middletown, NY which is about fifty miles Northwest of Piermont. I'm now 70 and have lived in Middletown for the past 35 years. Audrey and I have been married for 48 years, and she comes from West Wyoming, PA, and was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

My graduating class was 1956 and I was one point short and could not graduate. So foolishly I quit. I later went on and took a course in Nyack High School and got my High School Equiv. Diploma.

After TZ 1955 I went to work for Safeway Stores Inc. in Pearl River NY which was bought out by Finast Supermarkets. I worked part time in Piermont as a Police Officer. I joined The Piermont Fire Dept. in 1958 and held the offices of asst. Foreman, Foreman, 2nd asst. Chief, 1st. Asst. Chief, Chief, and later as Chief Driver. This September I'll have been a member for 48 years. In my Firematic years I belonged to The Rockland County Firemans Assn., NY & NJ Firemans assn., Ex Chiefs assn., Piermont Fire Dept., New York State Fire Chiefs assn., and also New York State Police Officers assn. And probably a few that I forgot, phew.

In about 1970, I left Finast Supermarkets as a Produce Manager and went to work for Cropsey Farm Inc. as an asst. Mgr. In their Retail Farm Market . I later earned the jobs of Produce and Grocery buyer, sales rep., Truck and fork lift operator trainer. Retired from there in 1999, and am now fully retired.

Audrey and I have two children, a girl and a boy, Charlene Marie and Charles Lee. Charlene sadly passed away at 30 years old, 13 years ago. I have 3 grandchildren, 2 from Charlene, a boy Shane and a girl Heather. I have a step grandson from my son Charles, whose name is Mathew. I also have a Great Granddaughter from Mathew, her name is Leeora and a Great Grandson from Mathew, named Aiden.

My hobbies are NASCAR Nextel cup racing. I was a big Dale Earnhardt race fan now I am watching his son Dale Jr. become a champion like his Father. I collect NASCAR 1/24th and 1/64th scale dye cast race cars and racing memorabilia. The other hobby I have is really enjoying our Grandkids.

Call or e-mail me any time.
Thanks, Charley

Contact Information

EMAIL: rcg74@frontiernet.net

Snail-Mail: 74 1/2 Linden Avenue, Middletown N.Y. 10940

Phone: 845-342-1837