"What do you say to the greatest genius of the century," declared Griffin, one of the last people living to have met Einstein. "You say nothing, you listen."
Griffin did a lot of listening during the two years that he knew the legendary mathematician who died on April 18, 1955, at Princeton in New Jersey where he had lived for the final two decades of his remarkable life.
Many of their encounters were over dinner at Einstein's home near the Institute of Advanced Studies where he worked. Griffin said that he became a kind of "court jester" at the house of Einstein.
"With his last lady friend [Johanna Fantova], I worked in the Princeton University library in the graphic art area, we became good friends and I was invited over for supper at Einstein's house," said Griffin, now 76.
"He spoke quite a bit and he apologized about it."
There was a 50-year difference in their ages and Griffin knew nothing about physics. But they became friends because of their shared love of classical music, particularly Mozart and Bach.
Einstein played the piano and violin. "I understand he was a pretty good violinist but he had no sense of timing and I think that is very funny," said Griffin, who eventually became the curator of rare books and documents.
At the first dinner Einstein spoke a lot about politics in his native Germany and then in the middle of it said that he had to go back to work leaving Griffin with Johanna, his step daughter Margot and personal secretary Helen Dukas.
"As he was leaving the room I turned to the ladies and said let me help with the dishes. Einstein turned back and said 'ach ... in Europe men never do the dishes."
Griffin did the dishes anyway.
Johanna suggested that Einstein show Griffin a toy bird that he kept to entertain visitors. "He asked me if liked it. I said: 'I love it'" And the friendship was sealed.
"The next day I got three phone calls from the three ladies who said 'consider yourself part of the family'. After that I saw him quite often. It was a simple, warm friendship."
Griffin said that Einstein spoke a lot about politics. Though he did not trust politicians in general, the scientist did admire Adlai E. Stevenson, who was twice a Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the 1950s.
Einstein did not talk about religion.
"One evening he talked about the tremendous awe he had for the order of the universe and the fact he was very humble in facing the tremendous order, discipline and wonder of the world.
"He was definitely a Jew. He told me one night that Hitler sent word to him to say that if he changed his ethnicity he could stay in Germany."
For Einstein's 75th birthday Griffin gave him a record of his favorite Bach music. "The next time I saw him he looked cool and distant and I finally said 'did you like the Bach?' He said why did you give it to me.
"It turned out that there was a lot of religious text on the cover, so he thought I was trying to convert him to Christianity but discovered it was only the music and it was fine."
Griffin also remembered how a priest in Rome who had known Einstein from the 1930s sent the scientist a card for his 75th birthday "telling very humbly he was saying prayers for him every day, at least one to the Virgin Mary because, she was a nice Jewish girl and Einstein loved that."
For the young Griffin, Einstein was a very relaxed person to be with.
"He was very warm and had a delicious sense of humor, he was a very nice, kindly man, very sincere. He was a dreamer. He was a person who had a great concern for the world and people. He was an early hippie. Remember he never wore socks."
© 2005 Agence France-Presse
To add a comment,
Please log in:
Don't have an account?
Register now to comment on stories and stay up to date on important events and issues in the Middle East with our newsletter.