The same courage and dedication that paved the way for a successful and illustrious legal career made George a legend in his hometown of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. When he was inducted into the Ambridge Hall of Fame in the 1990’s, local shopkeepers still remembered his greatest high school football plays. He went on to play football for the University of Michigan and after serving his country as a Lieutenant in the Air Force, he entered Hastings College of the Law.
The day after George passed the bar exam in 1964, he opened his first office in Millbrae. Shortly thereafter he read a call for volunteers to represent defendants charged in the sit-in demonstrations in San Francisco car dealerships. Demonstrators were protesting discriminatory hiring practices and demanding integration of the sales force. And so, fresh out of law school, without a dime to spare, a career of advocating for the rights of the average citizen began.
Part of a legal team that defended 500 protestors in the car dealership sit-ins, George was in the trenches with some of San Francisco’s finest trial lawyers. There he learned the true meaning of advocacy. George had the uncanny ability to sway his opponents by crafting unique and well-reasoned arguments that make adversaries forget why they disagreed with him in the first place. Though George fought tirelessly for his clients, he was always courteous and kind. He earned the respect of his clients and opposing counsel. Quite often, former adversaries called him for advice. George did not lose clients – people from five decades ago returned to his office.
As renowned as his legal career was George’s commitment to his community. He led by the example that lawyers owe a duty not only to the community but also to the legal profession. George’s longstanding commitment to advocating for the rights of the average citizen extended to the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, where he acted as Chair Emeritus. A fixture in San Mateo County, George served as Mayor of San Bruno from 1972 to 1973, served on the San Bruno City Council and founded the Peninsula Bank of Commerce. He acted as a director of a myriad of community service and non-profit organizations, including LifeMoves.
George was predeceased by his loving wife, Ina, who was also a fixture in our legal community. He is survived by his children Laura, Jan and Karl and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
George will be deeply missed but his legacy will live on in the lives he touched, those attorneys whom he mentored, and the law firm that bears his name.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private gathering will be held for family only. A public memorial will hopefully be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Legal Aid of San Mateo County, an organization that held a special place in George’s heart.
