FARMINGTON – Brett Andrew Griswold, 29, of Farmington, died unexpectedly late Thursday morning, April 17, at his home on Main St., Farmington, of natural causes due to a congenital heart condition.

He was born June 9, 1978, in Portland, the son of Richard and Ellen (Caudle) Griswold. He was a 1996 graduate of Mt. Blue High School and became a gifted chef. He began working at the Homestead Bakery and then the Granary and Boiler Room in Farmington and Wilton. For a period of time, he was in Michigan where he was employed at the Cottage Inn Cafe. At the time of his passing, he was the co-owner, with his dad and stepmother, of the Granary Restaurant in Farmington.

On Oct. 29, 2000, he married Vanessa Pinkham in Farmington. As noted on his MySpace on the Internet, he loved his daughter Maya, playing golf, cooking, fishing, the woods, Red Sox baseball, music, reading, movies and art. His family describes him as a fantastic father, a fiercely loyal and generous friend, a gifted chef and a non-judgmental, kind man, who made an impact on people. He “had the soul of an artist,” and was a teacher at heart, always giving to those whom he loved.

He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and their daughter, Maya Jocelyn Griswold, both of West Farmington; his mother and stepfather, Ellen and Stephen Grant, of New Sharon; his father and stepmother, Richard and Martha Griswold of Wilton; his sisters, Shelly Carpenter and her three sons, Brandon, Reiley and Gavin, all of Flint, Mich., Jessica Griswold and her daughter, Shannon Pinkham of Wilton; two stepsisters, Peggy Hamilton and her husband, James “Jim,” of Wilton and Sherry Blauvelt and her husband, Douglas, of Farmington; two stepbrothers, Jason Grant of Lyman and Shaun Lister and his wife, Melissa, of Bridgeport, Conn.; his paternal grandfather, “Gramps” Al Griswold, of New Sharon; maternal grandfather “Grampa” James Caudle of Middletown, Conn.; “Auntie Pam” and “Uncle Pooh,” Pamela and Tony Adams of Farmington; Aunt Holly Lindbom of Farmington; Uncle Mike Caudle and his wife, Barbara, of Las Vegas, Nev.; Uncle Dave Caudle and Aunt Vreni of Conn.; Aunt Millie and Uncle Bernie Rosenblatt of Conn.; his “sibling-cousins,” otherwise known as “The Brat Pack,” Len Adams, Michael Adams and Heather Lindbom; several other Connecticut aunts, uncles and cousins; his “Granary Family,” and many dear friends.

He was predeceased by Gram Janet Griswold and Gramma Vera Hibberd.