Retiring Natrona Heights letter carrier lauded for dependability, cheerfulness
As he puts a cancel stamp on a nearly 40-year career as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, one of Kevin Griffith’s concerns going into retirement is about putting on weight.
Walking 25,000 steps a day has had its benefits.
“I loved getting paid for getting exercise,” Griffith said.
Griffith, 61, worked his last shift out of the Natrona Heights Post Office in Harrison on Friday, where his co-workers celebrated his retirement and wished him well.
“Kevin’s the man,” carrier Randy Whitehair said. “He’s never called off the whole time I’ve been here with him — always reliable, does his job, irreplaceable. I’m gonna miss him.”
Postmaster Shawn Warner called Griffith a “model employee.” Warner said Griffith hasn’t missed a day in the eight years he’s been there, and has accumulated more than 3,400 hours of sick leave.
“I will truly miss the man,” he said.
After graduating from Highlands in 1977, Griffith worked in a machine shop for a few years before joining the postal service in 1981. He first worked in Cheswick, helped out in Springdale and then went to Brackenridge before going to Natrona Heights in 2011 when the Brackenridge post office was merged with it.
“Being a machinist — it was standing in one spot. It was a long day,” he said. “Once I tried the postal service, I enjoyed the job. It was a breeze for me.”
Griffith’s father, William Griffith, who received a Purple Heart for his service in the Army in Europe during World War II, had been a mail carrier in Tarentum and worked for the post office for 25 years.
“I always wanted to be a mail carrier,” Griffith said.
Griffith has done his current route, with 400 customers, in the area of Allegheny Valley Hospital for eight years. It includes the picturesque Carlisle Street, where Valley News Dispatch photographers twice happened to come across Griffith and made him the subject of feature photos.
Asked what he enjoyed about the job, Griffith said, “The day always went fast. I enjoyed the people.”
Mike Fetchko has lived on Oakwood Place near Carlisle Street for eight years. He said everyone on Griffith’s route loves him — even the dogs.
“This guy doesn’t just deliver mail. He delivers laughter, good will and a smile,” Fetchko said. “He knows everybody. He knows you by name and he knows your family. Although he’s on a tight schedule, he asks you how you’re doing.”
While the people were the upside for Griffith, he said the winters were the downside.
“There was a few winters my hands were so cold they were tingling,” he said.
But the heat was worse.
“This summer was the hottest summer I ever experienced,” he said.
Since he won’t be walking as much, Griffith said he bought a bike.
“I don’t want to gain 40 pounds being retired,” he said.
His other planned retirement activity, fishing, probably won’t burn many calories.
Griffith said he feels good about retiring.
“The post office is very time-consuming. I didn’t have much free time to myself,” he said. “I always ate fast food. Now, I’ll be able to cook.”
Still, Griffith said retiring is difficult.
“It’s hard for me,” he said. “I never wanted to give it up.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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