PORTSMOUTH — Ruth Griffin, a pioneer in New Hampshire politics known equally in the city for her public service, died Saturday at age 99.

“She passed peacefully at home with her family around her, which is what she requested, so we made that happen for her,” said Joan, her daughter.

Ruth Griffin was elected to and served in New Hampshire’s House, Senate and Executive Council. She’s a Republican legend in heavily Democratic Portsmouth, where a public housing apartment building is named in honor. She served 42 years on the Portsmouth Housing Authority board, a tenure that continued 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 in attendance in 2022 for the opening of the PHA’s Ruth Lewin Griffin Place apartments on Court Street. In 2018, Gov. Chris Sununu successfully pushed for the Little Bay bridge connecting Dover and Newington to be named Ruth L. Griffin Bridge.

Griffin’s support was sought by Republican presidential candidates for decades in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Griffin served two terms as Republican National Committeewoman, was a member of the selection committee of the Republican National Convention for the 2000 convention, and served many times as a delegate to the RNC, starting in 1972.

Born July 9, 1925, Griffin moved to Portsmouth from Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1938, and was well known for living in the farmhouse built in 1896 by “Grandpa Griffin” on the corner of Richards Avenue and South Street. She was known for the lambs and goats on what is known Griffin’s Half Acre Farm, popular with locals who stopped by to see the animals.

After attending Portsmouth schools, she graduated from nursing school. She was elected to and served on Portsmouth’s School Board and Police Commission as well.

Look for additional coverage of Ruth Griffin’s passing in the coming days. Material from Seacoastonline and Portsmouth Herald archives was used in this report.

CONCORD, NH — Grant Provencher, born 1984, of Chesley Street in Concord was arrested at 4:47 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2024, on simple assault and resisting arrest or detention charges. He was arrested after an incident or investigation on Chesley Street.

Corey Michael Lakevicius, 59, a homeless man now located in Concord, was arrested at 11:47 p.m. on July 26 on a stalking charge. He was arrested after an incident or investigation on Mountain Road.

Justin Weber, born 1980, of Concord was arrested at 12:19 p.m. on July 25 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation at the Concord Coop at 24 S. Main St.

Vincent A. Mott, born 1991, of Concord was arrested at 2 p.m. on July 19 on an arrest prior to requisition as well as a bench warrant, a felony second-degree assault-strangulation-domestic violence charge, and a felony second-degree assault-strangulation charge. He was arrested after an incident or investigation on North Main Street. Read more about this case here: Concord Man, Also A Boston Fugitive, Faces Assault Charges in Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Jesse Lorenzo Moscarito, born 1996, of Concord was arrested at 1:43 p.m. on July 18 on a criminal mischief charge after an incident or investigation on Merrimack Street.

Joseph R. Giconte, born 1995, of Concord was arrested at 9:12 p.m. on July 17 on simple assault and domestic violence-simple assault charges after an incident or investigation on Fisherville Road.

Kimberly Lynette Orantes, born 1976, of Concord was arrested at 2:54 a.m. on July 17 on three bench warrants after an incident or investigation on Monroe Street.

Mikayla C. Georgoulakos, born 2000, of Concord received a summons at 1:25 p.m. on July 15 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation at Stickney Avenue.

John Ratchford, born 1981, of Concord received a summons at 2:15 a.m. on July 13 on an operating with an expired license-subsequent charges after an incident or investigation on North Main Street.

Kristen Alexander, 48, of Laconia received a summons at 8:31 p.m. on July 3 on three simple assault charges after an incident or investigation at Concord Hospital at 250 Pleasant St.

Nathaniel G. Griffin, 24, a homeless man now located in Concord, was arrested on a bench warrant at 9:55 a.m. on July 3, as well as two felony drug possession charges. Police were sent to the Concord Public Library at 45 Green St. for a report of two people, a man and a woman, “acting strange” who “appeared to be impaired inside the library,” an affidavit stated. The reporting officer first spoke to a woman in her late 30s, who asked if library staff called the police and then admitted to being “a little aggressive” inside. Staff then pointed out the man, Griffin, and police went to speak with him. He asked why police were speaking with him and the officer explained library staff said they both did not seem to be acting right, a report stated. Griffin stated he was just there reading books about computers, the officer wrote. An officer ran a check on Griffin while asking him to step outside, and he had an electronic bench warrant out of Nashua District Court for nonappearance with bail set at $100 cash. After he was outside, and the warrant and his descriptors were confirmed, he was arrested. Griffin “immediately began to tell me there was a small black cross strap bag that was not his, it was (the woman’s),” the affidavit stated, “(and) he asked if I could give it to her.” The woman came over, was asked if the bag was hers, she denied it, and Griffin was then searched and secured in the police cruiser, the officer wrote. His belongings were searched, and inside the black cross-strap bag was a small baggie with a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to the report. Griffin was taken straight to the county jail, and the officer noted his belongings were searched there. A tan rock substance, believed to be fentanyl, inside a plastic wrapper was found inside a glass container, the affidavit said. Griffin’s case was boundover from Concord District Court to Merrimack County Superior Court on July 16. He is due back in superior court for a dispositional conference hearing on Oct. 17.

Rebecca Caryn Anderson, born 1995, of Manchester received a summons at 9:45 a.m. on July 2 on an operating with an expired license charge and a suspension of vehicle registration violation after an incident or investigation at 164 Loudon Road.

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