Mieko Tahara Griffinof Hanover, NH, died peacefully at Wheelock Terrace on Monday, June 29, 2015. She was 85.

Mieko was born in 1930 to Akio and Nobuko Tahara and spent her childhood in Niimi, Japan, with her seven sisters and brothers. She lost her mother at the age of 6, and as a young girl, lost a brother in the war, and a sister to illness. She met Stuart Griffin, an American journalist who was living in Japan, at a sporting event and, in 1970, they moved to England, where they were married and had a daughter, Alais. They lived in Jordans Village, Buckinghamshire until 1982, when they moved to Hanover.

Stuart and Mieko were married for 34 years and traveled all over the world together. Mieko was a wonderful cook and she and Stuart frequently entertained friends and Dartmouth students in their home. They enjoyed movies at the Dartmouth Film Society and jazz concerts at the Hopkins Center. Mieko loved crafts, gardening, opera, classical music, and jazz and was an active participant in the World Peace Prayer Society.

With boundless energy, she participated in FLIP exercise classes from weightlifting to water aerobics into her 80s, walked tirelessly, and danced whenever possible. She was incredibly proud of her daughter and was a fixture at Hanover High and Harvard track and cross-country races.

Mieko moved to Wheelock Terrace in 2011 and was loved and cared for by their wonderful staff. She is survived by her daughter, Alais and husband Christopher, her step-daughter, Yoshimi and husband Frank, her step-son, Alexander and wife Kathryn, her brothers Kazuo, Minoru, Shigeo, and Toyotoshi, and by numerous nieces and nephews. Her husband, Stuart, her brothers Mitsuho and Hiroshi, and her sister, Chieko, predeceased her.

Mieko will be remembered as a charming, elegant, funny, strong, smart, and joyful person. We will be remembering these qualities and celebrating her life with an afternoon tea reception at the Hanover Inn on Saturday, July 11 from 3 to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mieko's memory to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins San Frontières (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org).

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.