New Hampshire
Ruth Griffin dies at 99, a legend in NH and Portsmouth for public service
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.
New Hampshire
Photo Exhibit | Art Talk | Crew Competition | Nashua Genealogy Club | More: Week Ahead Events
NASHUA, NH — Here is the week ahead roundup.
Get out, New Hampshire.
Event listings are free on one Patch site. You can share your calendar info on other community sites for a modest fee, starting at 25 cents per day. To get started, visit the Events link on the front page of all Patch sites. Statewide calendar roundups are published on most Sundays and Wednesdays. Visit any of the 223 New Hampshire Patch Event sites (patch.com/map/new-hampshire) for updated listings.
Join us for a community conversation exploring how land conservation supports thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and local economies. Recent research from Maine highlights the growing economic value of conserved lands — from supporting recreation, forestry, agriculture, and tourism to protecting clean water, storing carbon, and strengthening climate resilience. The findings reveal something important: protecting natural landscapes is not only good for the environment, but also for the people and communities that depend on them.
Together, we’ll explore what this research means both regionally and here at home. How do conserved lands shape our quality of life, local economy, and sense of place? How can communities balance growth, conservation, and long-term sustainability? And what role can each of us play in protecting the landscapes that support both nature and people?
At each “Let’s Talk Nature” gathering, we share a short article in advance and come together for an informal, welcoming discussion. Each session stands on its own, and everyone is welcome. No expertise needed. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to listen and share. Drinks and cookies provided.
Read this session’s article: Conserved Land in Maine has Growing Economic Power
Grey Rocks Conservation Center
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM on Wed, 1 Jul 2026
Event Supported By
Newfound Lake Region Association
603-744-8689
info@NewfoundLake.org
High winds and widespread rain contributed to more than 12,000 power outages Saturday as a low pressure system passes over New Hampshire.
A high wind advisory remains in effect for southeastern New Hampshire until midday.
There is a high surf advisory in effect for the Seacoast area until 8 p.m. Saturday, with large-breaking waves in the range of 6-9 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast warns of dangerous wintry winds for hikers and campers, with heavy wet snow likely at higher elevations and a foot of snow possible on summits in the White Mountains.
In southeastern New Hampshire, the wind advisory calls for steady winds of 15-25 mph, and potential wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Eversource reported over 10,000 outages as of 9:30 a.m. Unitil had about 1,400 outages at that time.
The Mount Washington Observatory has recorded winterlike weather over the past 24 hours. Weather observers there say over half a foot of snow and sleet has fallen at the summit.
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