Renwick Griswold

Renwick (“Wick”) Griswold, 78, of Old Lyme, Connecticut, passed away on January 21 after a long illness.
Wick was a unique person who touched the lives of everyone who knew him. His infectious enthusiasm,
essential humanity, and ready smile enabled him to connect with people of all ages and from all walks of
life. He was a man of many interests, most notably canoeing (or “drifting” as he preferred to call it), all
things related to the Connecticut River (particularly shad, ferries, and conservation), history, reading, the
New York Yankees, basset hounds, classic Volkswagens, candle making, and enjoying life with his wife
Annie and a seemingly endless array of friends. His canoeing friends in the Connecticut River Drifting
Society remember an annual calendar of drifts from New Year’s Day to late autumn, each drift a
memorable adventure. His signature greeting, screaming “ROARRRR” while throwing both fists in the
air, became a ritual part of every river outing.
Wick, the son of Abel and Helen Griswold, was born in New Britain, Connecticut on June 21,
1944 (he took great delight in celebrating his birthday on the summer solstice) and graduated from New
Britain High School and the University of Hartford. He held many jobs in his youth, but his primary calling
was as a sociology professor and he spent over three decades on the faculty of the University of
Hartford until his retirement in 2018. “Gris,” as he was known to his students, was an engaging and
much-beloved teacher; many former students credited him with being a transformational or life-
changing influence. Environmental concerns and social justice were at the core of his classes and Wick
inspired his students to become active in the community through service learning, including group
activities such as river cleanups and overnight sleepouts to raise awareness and support for the
homeless, along with spring break service learning trips to New Orleans, Texas, and Puerto Rico in the
wake of hurricanes. He developed a course “Sociological Perspectives on the Connecticut River” in which
students learned about life on the river, traveled out on the water, and participated in a cleanup of the
shores of Great Island at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Later in his career, he wrote or co-
authored a series of books for History Press about the Connecticut River, including A History of the
Connecticut River and Connecticut Pirates and Privateers, and was associate producer of a documentary
“Ferryboats of the Connecticut River” that was broadcast on CPTV in June of 2018. When he retired, the
University of Hartford honored him with emeritus status and by creating the Hillyer College Wick
Griswold Award for Service.
Wick spent the last decade or so of his life living with Annie at Griswold Point at the mouth of
the Connecticut River in Old Lyme. He loved looking out at Long Island Sound, his daily walk to the
mouth of the Connecticut River, paddling in his canoe, and entertaining a steady stream of visitors. Wick
remained active in retirement, giving talks about the Connecticut River, pursuing new writing projects
including a ten-part radio drama, “Colonized” on the arrival of Europeans in the Connecticut River
Valley, and hosting a regular show, “Connecticut River Drift” on I-CRV radio in Ivoryton. During his year-
long final illness, Wick continued to live life to the fullest degree possible, roaming the world on his ever-
present iPad. He was particularly grateful for a “rebound” from late spring into the autumn that enabled
him to enjoy a few last baseball games, walks, paddles on the river, and outings with friends and family.
All those who knew and loved Wick wish him a final “ROARRRR” as he drifts off into the Universe.
Wick is survived by his wife Annie Griswold, his son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Annette
Guasp, his son and daughter-in-law Ralph Guasp and Andrea Gnazzo, his cousin Irving Austin, his
brother-in-law Anthony Giorgio, his nieces Carla Giorgio and Molly Giorgio-Dial, three grandchildren,
and a grandnephew. In addition to his parents, Wick was predeceased by his stepfather Art Wasserman
and his sister, Nina Griswold Giorgio.