Van Nicholas “Nick” Griffin of Satsuma, Alabama, Bay Minette, Alabama, Fredericksburg, Virginia, San Diego, California and Silverhill , Alabama, “molted” (as he liked to put it; saying that we don’t die, we just leave one shell for a bigger, better shell; like a crab, he would say) on November 27, 2020, in his home in Silverhill, Alabama.   

Nick is survived by, his parents, Mr. & Mrs. David Wayne Perry and Kimberly Nash Griffin Perry of Silverhill, AL, sister, Natalie A. Smith (Sidney) of Bay Minette, AL and K.C. Perry of Los Angeles, CA;  brothers, Nathan Perry (Clarisa) of Thousand Oaks, CA and Matthew Perry (Yvonne) of Boulder, CO;  and an extended family of dozens.

He is preceded in death by his father, Frank Griffin of Bay Minette, AL.

Nick was intelligent, interesting, kindhearted, witty and had a passion for music and the environment. He had taught himself to play the guitar, keyboard, saxophone and Native American flute. At the time he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he was teaching himself to play the violin.  But, first and foremost, Nick was a passionate and phenomenal guitarist and composer.

At the time Nick was diagnosed and had the subsequent first of 5 surgeries, he was in the process of transferring to University of California San Diego, majoring in music and physics. While there, not aware that at the time, he himself had a brain tumor, he had done a research paper on the efficacy of chemo & radiation on brain tumors, specifically his type, Astrocytoma. As a result of that research, his choice was to forgo chemo & radiation. He chose to have resections as needed to keep the rest of his brain tissue pristine and to remain as overall healthy as possible. This worked remarkably well, as his prognosis was 2-3 years, but he lived an additional 11 years.

As stated, Nick was passionate about the environment!  He started his own campaign of “Two Easy Pieces” and shared it with others. The idea being that if everyone picked up just two pieces of rubbish whenever they went out, then that would go a long way toward cleaning up their corner of the world. So, folks, 2 Easy Pieces, please!

Nick had an unshakable faith in God and wanted to live as God would have him. Shortly after diagnosis with the brain tumor, he remarked that it was certainly not what he wanted, but he prayed that through it, God would help him to be a better man.

Nick had a mischievous sense of humor that surfaced after his first brain surgery. He and his dad were kindred spirits in this.  Nick was forever pulling pranks or making witty remarks intended to disconcert; like telling his dad who was groaning from aches and pains, that he (Nick) should observe him more often so that he wouldn’t feel bad about dying young!  Now, how does one respond to that?! He was indeed full of “treacherous wit”!!

Nick loved the outdoors. He loved surfing, biking, hiking, and free diving . . . everything outside.  He hiked the Appalachian Trail, and he was also certified to teach and coach snow skiing and snowboarding in both the U.S. and Canada.

Nick unknowingly had a brain tumor for most his life.  He thought that everyone felt like he did, so he never complained.  But eventually, as a young man, he went through 27 medical professionals and 17 wrong diagnoses before discovering that he had a brain tumor.  Everything he accomplished, he did with an enormous tumor in his head. 

He was one of a kind!  He is greatly missed!

This has been far too long a time coming.  But, when Nick molted during Covid, gatherings were restricted. By the time those restrictions were lifted, it had been quite some time and there was no heart to dig up old sadness.   Now, as Nick’s dad, David “Wayne” Perry, has passed away as well, there will be a combined memorial for Nick and his dad, on Friday, May 15, 4:00pm, at Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road in Daphne, AL.

Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.