Reporters’ note: We were Mr. Griffith’s students on the Lincoln Constitution Team from 2024-25.
On the last day of Constitution Team class, volunteer coach Stephen Griffith held a stack of small cards. These business cards declared us students to be the stem cells of democracy: people who, no matter where they end up, remain civically engaged and help others do the same.
Each year, the Constitution Team, which consists of around 36 students divided into six “units,” studies concepts related to the U.S. Constitution and simulates congressional hearings before a panel of judges. Griffith was the head coach for Unit One, which focuses on the philosophical foundations of the Constitution.
In his twenties, Griffith served in the Peace Corps in Liberia, teaching high school there, calling it the “two most important years of his life.” He realized that even without riches, his neighbors were truly happy, and that happiness made them wealthy in a more important way. Later, in 2015, he and his wife decided to start a preschool in the country.
Griffith himself has always been a stem cell of democracy. Dedicating decades of his life to civic education and service, Griffith also led the Portland Supreme Project, a program where high school students study and memorialize Supreme Court cases that originated in Portland.
Griffith passed away on February 12, 2026, after a climbing accident in Ecuador. He always emphasized to us the importance of leaving something behind, a legacy. He has done the same. He shaped the lives of his students, making us realize the kind of person we want to be: dedicated to our community and the betterment of the world. We were, and continue to be, inspired by his impact on our lives every day.
Remembrances
A life well lived
“Walking around the Washington DC memorials, we took a detour, and he told me about his life experiences with his friend who was in Vietnam and how he became inspired to work with the Peace Corps.” Naomi Margolis, former Constitution Team student, 2023-24
“My favorite memory is probably his 80th birthday party… After the party, the ‘80th Birthday’ banner stayed up for months. Truly a testament to what a long, happy life looks like.” Isabel Treger, current Unit One member, 2025-26
Kindness from the heart
“I had decided to make latkes for some god forsaken reason, and they were foul… Nobody touched them; I didn’t even finish mine. Mr. Griffith had two. Then, he went out of his way to tell me how much he enjoyed them. You don’t meet a lot of people like that, people who are down to their bones kind. That’s who Mr. Griffith was.” Iris Foster, former Unit One member, 2022-23
“He took me aside one day when he noticed I was feeling down and personally coached me through all of the problems I was facing at the time… that made me realize how much he cared about each and every one of us as individuals and not just the team.” Mia Kim, former Constitution Team student, 2024-25
“He would memorize our favorite snacks and go to Fred Meyers during breaks in our meeting to buy them for us.” Mia Herrin, former Unit One member, 2023-24
2026’s Unit One attended La Boheme opera with Griffith at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Courtesy of ELI BARBATO
Passion and vision
“From STEM projects to service projects, he sought to leverage his influence to benefit society. He always believed that it was the job of this generation, the students, to get educated and right the wrongs of society.” Rangan Krishna, former Constitution Team student, 2024-25
“I wouldn’t trade the experiences of sitting and listening to his lectures, competing over Constitutional citations or hearing his pep talk at State competition, for the world.” Laya Counts, current Constitution Team student, 2025-26
“The year I was on the Constitution Team was the same as the teachers’ strike… I remember so clearly all 30 of us shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee in the living room of Mr. Griffith’s house while he was standing in the center with a little whiteboard talking passionately about the Constitution.” Maria Ganev, former Constitution Team student, 2023-24
Lessons from politics to life
“He taught me to always be positive, which he always was.” Ian Conine Reyes, former Constitution Team student, 2024-25
“He taught me about politics and government, but he also taught me lessons about life and compassion; treating others as individuals rather than as means to ends.” Eli Barbato, current Unit One member, 2025-26
“Mr. Griffith has inspired me to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Life, meeting new people, being in and appreciating nature and exploring music and art. Liberty, knowledge, virtue and political participation. Happiness, lifelong friends, joy in hard times and giving towards others.” Della Sweeney, current Unit One member, 2025-26
“Mr. Griffith was the person who transformed the timid, insecure teenager that I was at the start of high school into the more mature, confident young adult that I am today… he ignited within me the passion for knowledge and civic dialogue.” Dorothy Cui, former Unit One member, 2022-23
“He was incredibly poetic, well read, well spoken, and just overall an incredibly intelligent person, while still being constantly cheerful, kind, charitable and physically more fit than I imagine I’ll ever be. He just made me realize that people like him actually could be real.” Anna Toll, former Unit One member, 2024-25
