Jan Griffiths Trude

Jan Griffiths Trude passed away peacefully at the age of 80 with his family by his side on October 6, 2024 at North Shore University Hospital from complications of a blood infection.

Jan was born to Anne Griffiths and Frederick William Trude on March 26, 1944 in Jamaica, New York. He grew up in Franklin Square, likely causing trouble alongside his younger brother, Douglas Trude. He went to Sewanaka High School for aviation courses. He went on to enlist in the Air Force where he proudly served our country state-side during the Vietnam War, fitting and repairing planes such as the B-52 Bombers at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle and Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York.After serving for four years,

 he was honorably discharged and came back home to Franklin Square where he began his career at Narda Microwave as a prototype electrical engineer. We still don’t know exactly what that means, however, he would tell you with pride that he only caused one major chemical spill requiring complete evacuation of the building. 

He enjoyed driving a variety of fast and interesting cars in his youth including a teal 1969 Camaro, Austin Healy, Datsun 240Z, a VW bug and his midlife crisis was highlighted by the purchase of a Mazda Miata in British Racing Green.

In 1967, he met a young woman, the friend of his brother’s girlfriend, Constance Portanova who was enamored from the start by his shining blue eyes and slightly awkward toothy grin. He waited until she was 18 to ask her to join him to the bowling alley for their first date. After that moment, they were together every day. Maybe it was her deep brown eyes, her heartfelt affection or her mother‘s Italian cooking but they soon got engaged and married on July 24, 1971 at Saint Catherine’s Church in Franklin Square.

In the years to follow, Jan and Connie settled down into a new build surrounded by trees in north Mastic. On a wooded dead end street abutting a small airport, he enjoyed the sound of small planes, filling the air on a summer day and catching the glimpse of gliders floating down from up high.

About four years later, their daughter, Jannine was born, followed four years later, by a son, Christopher. As children, he taught them to love nature, family, and the occasional shenanigan. In their formative years, he mostly showed his pride in them by screaming at the referee who may have made a bad call through a red megaphone. 

Jan‘s happy place was with his family whom he supported wholeheartedly even when his daughter declared herself a theater major and his son squeezed four years of college into 6 1/2.

Jannine would grow to love nature and the outdoors, continuing the tradition of camping and hiking with her daughters, Madison and Hailey.

His son, Chris, a meddler like himself, presented him with constructive problems that needed solving and together they had many adventures, including driving cross country, ending at Yellowstone National Park, where Chris would spend a summer.

He took great pride in his children’s accomplishments, and during his time in the hospital, no one was left wondering who his daughter was or who she worked for (a physician assistant at the same hospital he had spent many weeks in.

There were many attributes his friends, family and neighbors would list in remembering his life. His willingness to volunteer to serve the homeless through Hope for the Future, helping others with electrical projects such as the automated baptismal font at The Harbor church or driving others. He liked to drive fast unless he had the station wagon, Dodge Dynasty or church van full of teenagers, then he was always very safe and followed mostly all traffic laws.

He was not one to complain about eating his vegetables. Actually, he was not one to complain about eating anything. He loved spicy Mexican food, Italian food and just about anything his amazing wife would prepare. Jan loved his country and country music. 

Jan retired at age 66 and shortly thereafter began full-time grandpa duties as a primary babysitter of his first granddaughter, Madison. It was the first time he was alone with an infant for 10 hours. But he and Madison figured it out and soon the love and admiration they shared formed a very special bond.

His grandchildren, Madison (10), Hailey (8) and Easton (almost 4), brought him immense joy and the time spent with them, whether it be playing catch or watching TV snuggled on the couch, were some of his happiest. He carried on his cherished pastime of sideline cheering at many of Madison’s softball games. He delighted in Hailey’s dance recitals (both in the living room and on the stage) and enjoyed hours of video and FaceTime with Easton just being adorable.

Jan was predeceased by his brother Douglas in July of this year, as well as his very good friend Andy Fioramonti, with whom he is surely having many laughs, hiking many mountains, and causing a bit of mischief with, in heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Constance, children Jannine and Chris, Chris’ wife, Starr, and grandchildren, Madison, Hailey and William Easton. 

Jan was a loving husband, proud father, grandfather, and loyal friend and neighbor who will be missed by us all. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October the 10th from 2-4pm and 7-9 pm at Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home in Center Moriches. 

The Funeral will be held the following day, Friday October the 11th at 10am followed by internment at Calverton National Cemetery. “Where there is love, it is never truly dark.”