By Paul Levikow
August 9, 2026 (El Cajon) – Memorial service plans have been announced for William “Bill” Griffith, the longtime San Diego television news anchor whose familiar face and reassuring voice became part of the fabric of the region for nearly four decades. He died at his Yuma home in July at age 77 following an unexpected medical event. Griffith lived in the East County before moving to Yuma.
A memorial service that is open to the public is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Shadow Mountain Community Church, 2100 Greenfield Drive, in El Cajon. The announcement, posted on the KGTV Alumni Facebook page, said there had been “such an outpouring of love, sympathy, and support from every corner of East County” that Griffith’s family asked that the service information be shared.
A small reception will follow the service, providing family, friends and former colleagues an opportunity to gather, share memories and celebrate Griffith’s life. Instead of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations in Griffith’s honor to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, organizations that were particularly meaningful to him and his family.
Griffith arrived at KGTV in 1976 at age 27 and went on to spend almost 40 years at the station. During that tenure, he served in a variety of roles, including weekend news anchor, sports director, talk-show host, magazine-show host, consumer reporter and morning and midday news anchor.
In 1996, he became a familiar presence on KGTV’s morning and 11 a.m. newscasts. He retired from the station in 2015 after 39 years on the air. Over the course of his career, Griffith covered many of the defining stories in modern San Diego history, including the PSA plane crash of the 1970s, the McDonald’s massacre in the 1980s, the Heaven’s Gate deaths in the 1990s and the devastating wildfires of 2003 and 2004.
When KGTV marked its 70th anniversary, Griffith reflected on some of those stories and the decades he spent chronicling life in the region. His work earned multiple Emmy and Golden Mike awards. In 2004, he received the San Diego Press Club’s prestigious Drew Silvern Award for his coverage of his own six-month battle with male breast cancer. That battle became one of the most personal and consequential chapters of Griffith’s broadcasting career.
He publicly documented his diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy, turning his experience into an educational resource for viewers and other men confronting a disease that is far less commonly associated with men. His online journal drew thousands of responses from people around the country and beyond. After recovering, Griffith became an advocate for cancer awareness and supported numerous cancer-related organizations, including Susan G. Komen, UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, City of Hope and programs benefiting children with cancer and leukemia.
Griffith and his family made their home in Rancho San Diego, where Griffith was active in the community and worshipped at a local church. KGTV’s biography noted that family life included water skiing, golfing, church and time with their dogs at their East County home. After retiring, Griffith continued to devote time to the community. He served as a volunteer with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Senior Volunteer Patrol at the Rancho San Diego station.
In 2021, Griffith was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the East County Honors Awards, reflecting his contributions to the community beyond his broadcasting career.
Griffith is survived by his sons, Adam Griffith and his wife, Sara, and James Griffith and his wife, Rachel; grandchildren William Griffith, Addison Griffith, Caleb Griffith and Andrew Griffith; former spouse Jenny Griffith; and siblings Jim Griffith and Debbie Griffith, according to KGTV.