The NCGA mourns the loss of former president Judge William Ross Giffen, who died November 7 at the age of 89.
Born in July of 1935 at the Santa Cruz County Hospital to Glenwood Hazen and Fayetta Madge, Bill Giffen was raised in the San Joaquin Valley where he graduated from Tracy Union High in 1952 as a top student and outstanding athlete. He then matriculated to Santa Clara University, graduating from law school in 1960. After completing the California Bar Exam, Bill worked as a practicing lawyer with Harold Willis in the Willis & Giffen law firm in Stockton until being appointed to the Municipal Court bench by Ronald Reagan in 1973. At age 37, Judge Giffen was the youngest appointee to the bench in the State of California at the time. Eventually, he would be appointed to the Superior Court in 1981 by Governor Jerry Brown.
Judge Bill Giffen spent 23 years on the bench in the pursuit of fairness and justice in our community. He was an ardent believer in the law and applied justice fairly and honorably. Having been raised in relative poverty himself, he was capable of immense empathy for those who had fallen on tough times and would make every effort to connect with, listen to, and truly understand everyone he dealt with. Judge Giffen touched countless lives and was incredibly fulfilled in his administration of justice.
Bill always said that his six children (Jon, Anna, Grace, Christina, William, and Mary) were the reason for his existence.
While serving on the bench, Judge Giffen met and married the love of his life, Susan (Cooper) Giffen. Bill and Susan traveled the world together, always embracing adventure, making friends everywhere they went, and pursuing their shared love for the game of golf.
Outside of work and into retirement, Bill was a passionate outdoorsman and avid golfer, serving as president of the NCGA in 2004. Bill could often be seen walking his home track at Brookside Country Club, carrying his own golf bag well into his late 80s.
“Being involved with the NCGA has almost been like a new career, time-wise, dedication-wise and interest-wise,” Giffen once said. “I didn’t really understand the traditions of the game and the perfection of the game until I became involved with the association. It’s very easy to love golf.”
Bill is survived by his loving wife Susan Giffen; sister JoEllen Rogers; six children Jon Giffen (Patricia), Anna Monnich (Kurt), Grace Paolini (Jerome), Christina Giffen (Mikel), William Giffen (Christine), and Mary Caughey (Todd). As a grandfather, Papa left an enduring mark on the lives of his grandchildren Ross and Emma Monnich; Jessica Brown, Anthony and Gabrielle Paolini; Claire Happer; and Elizabeth and Harrison Caughey. To great-grandson, Enzo Paolini, and future great-grandchildren, his story, amazing life, and unending love will be shared through the generations.
The family asks that any donations be made to the UCSF Rombauer Pancreatic Cancer Research fund (Fund Code: B1180) or Hospice of San Joaquin. Services will be held privately.
