Bid thee Farewell

Recently both our parents passed away peacefully within three weeks of each other at the age of 91. We are hosting a Celebration of Life for them on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the historic Rancho Santa Cruz, south of Tucson, Arizona. Family and friends are welcome to join us in honoring them. Please RSVP at kateygriffith@hotmail.com or 805-588-0996 by March 28th so we have an accurate head count. 

Celebration of Life for Bill & Mary Ann Griffith
April 4, 3-7pm 
Rancho Santa Cruz
1709 E Frontage Rd
Tumacácori, AZ 85640

Below is an obituary that will be updated periodically with photos and comments. Please feel free to leave your own memories at the bottom or include them in your RSVP to me.

William Francis Roelofson (Bill) Griffith III (July 16, 1934 - December 14, 2025)
Mary Ann Helen Beiser (Mary Ann) Griffith (January 4, 1935 - January 4, 2026) 

Bill Griffith and his beloved wife, Mary Ann, passed away three weeks apart in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, both at the age of 91. Their love story, spanning more than 70 years across the country from Arizona to Florida, has moved for the final time to the other side of the rainbow. Their life was one big adventure, including large extended families, four children, three grandchildren, numerous friends, ruckus rodeos and a corporate career. Their 30+ years of retirement afforded leisure time and pleasure in yachting, traveling and socializing with friends at their beach club. They especially enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean view from their Ponte Vedra Beach condo during their Golden Years.

Bill was born on July 16, 1934, in Tucson, Arizona, at the Stork's Nest to William F.R. Griffith, Jr. and Suzanne Bradley Griffith. He attended the University of Arizona, where he was Rodeo Boss and graduated as a proud “Aggie” in 1956. He married Mary Ann Beiser on January 28, 1956. Mary Ann was born on January 4, 1935 in Oak Park, Illinois, to Frank D. Beiser and Margaret O’Toole Beiser. She also attended the University of Arizona and lassoed her cowboy at a rodeo dance held at Li'l Abners by writing her phone number on his sleeve.

In the early years of marriage, Mary Ann was a traditional homemaker who enjoyed cooking, sewing, making pottery, restoring antique furniture and weaving.  She battled blindness for most of her life but did not let it slow her down. She raised four children with a strong moral foundation and work ethic. The eldest of six siblings, she had leadership skills and a strong personality that were the driving force of the family. She was an influential navigator of their life together.

In the early 1960s, Bill launched his corporate career selling agrichemicals and fertilizers to farmers in Arizona and California. He moved on to Eli Lilly subsidiary Elanco Products for 10 years, where he was involved in the introduction of several important products. He also worked for the German chemical giant BASF for a couple of years. Bill’s 18-year career with American Cyanamid were his most professionally satisfying. He was VP/GM of the billion dollar agrichemical subsidiary and was named NAMA 1991 Agri-Marketer of the Year. In 1994, American Cyanamid merged with American Home Products and Bill retired at the age of 60.

His colleague and friend Kenneth Root wrote, “Bill was considered a great leader in the Agri-Chemical industry. He worked at American Cyanamid in the 1980’s and ‘90’s as Vice President of Crop Protection Chemicals. He was instrumental in starting the AgriCenter concept of direct marketing and funded the startup of the National AgriChemical Retailers Association (NARA). He was a strong competitor but a great friend of fertilizer and crop protection companies across the spectrum. He retired to a quiet life with his wife over a quarter century ago but his work and legend live on with those who knew Mr. Bill.”

Bill was also a volunteer board director of XSInc from 1997-2019. He was proud when XSInc merged with TK to became TKXS and within a year purchased by Telus. He was also a board member of Ocean Villas at Serenata Beach Condo Association, a commodore for Queens Harbor Yacht Club and “President for Life” of Griffith Aquasports Co. A proud descendant of numerous colonial families, Bill was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Bill enjoyed annual cruises from St. Augustine, Florida, to Abaco Islands on his yacht DreamTime, including a few solo passages, and a transatlantic crossing on a sailing yacht. His last adventure was traveling up the Amazon River at 85-years old with his daughter, Kate. He was a dedicated family man. 

Survivors: children Kathleen Griffith (Norm Yost), William F.R. Griffith IV, Thomas Griffith (Karen), Aline Griffith (Barrett Gould); grandchildren John Griffith, Jake Griffith, Matt Griffith; Bill’s siblings Charles Griffith (Barbara), Johanna Bradley; Mary Ann’s siblings Jane Dolan (Bob), Larry Beiser (Cindy), Margery Wingfield, Darr Beiser (Margo Warren). Bill was predeceased by sisters Gretchen G. Fogel and Giacinta B. Koontz. MaryAnn was predeceased by brother Frank Beiser (Jane Beiser). 

Recommended nearby lodging:

The Tubac Country Inn (Tubac) 520-398-3178

Casa Paloma (Tumacacori) 520-940-4569

Tubac Golf Resort & Spa (Tubac) 520-398-2211

Recommended nearby diversions:

Tubac: Where Art & History Meet

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park & Museum

Tumacácori Mission National Historic Park Mission

Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory