Donald A. George (83), a lifelong Methuen resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 6th surrounded by his loving wife of 58 years Gladys Mae (Bistany) and his very loving and caring children, who all miss him very much. He fought a courageous battle to recover from injuries he sustained when struck by a vehicle while raking leaves in his yard in December 2014. Born in Methuen, he was the son of Abdella and Nazera George. Donald graduated from Edward F. Searles High School in Methuen in 1951 where he became a very active alumni, helping to plan class reunions and other special events. He self-financed his way into college by selling newspapers in his neighborhood, and race programs at Rockingham Park. He attended Tufts University in Medford MA, where he earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1955. Donald became a highly respected Registered Professional Engineer shortly after graduation. After college, Donald entered the US Navy as a Seabee, the Engineering branch of the Navy. As a planning engineer, he designed seven U.S. Bases. Donald was proud of his service in Project Deep Freeze, as the effort was focused on preserving food and provisions in the very harsh Antarctica environment. His work has been documented by National Geographic and still exists in Antarctica today. When he returned from the service, Donald worked as a Resident Design engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. Later, he was an Inspector for the Town of Methuen Planning Board and served periodically as chairman of the Methuen Board of Trade. Later, he became a Project Engineer and Environmental Specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration. He worked on design and runway construction on numerous airports in New York, New Jersey and across New England. It was during this time he married his hometown sweetheart, Gladys, and relocated back to Methuen to raise his family. In 1960, he founded and was the president of Home Inspection Associates. With his partner and brother-in-law Sam Maloof they pioneered the profession in the Greater Boston area. Together they built an industry that did not exist at the time and 55 years later it is still a thriving family run business. He performed home inspections and met people from all walks of life and provided sound guidance and advice. In 1969 Donald became Chairman of the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District Board, a $60 million project at the time that significantly abated pollution and cleaned up the water in the Merrimack River for all of us to enjoy today. From 1977 to 1993, Donald went on to become the Executive Director of GLSD, overseeing the operation of a state of the art waste water treatment facility at the time. He helped create a real collaboration among the neighboring cities and towns and through his work on the Merrimack Valley Watershed Council helped foster in a new era of environmental responsibility in the region.
Donald had a remarkable commitment to his community, his church, and his family. He was often called upon and offered his expertise to solve complex problems and lead projects that helped the people of his community. He was awarded the prestigious North Essex Council Boy Scouts of America, Lord Baden Powell Award for his work on the original committee to restore the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, a Lawrence landmark. In 1992, Donald was awarded the Preservation Award from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. In 1996, he was recognized and presented with an honorary diploma and Lifetime Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers. For many years, he was a Trustee for the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen with his focus on the building committee during the periods of great facility and technology advancements including the installation of the first MRI unit in the Merrimack Valley and the creation of the Cancer Management Center. He was a Trustee for the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home where again he helped oversee many important facility expansions and service improvements. He also was on the board of directors of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, offering guidance and resources as the school anticipated expansion. He loved Saint Anthony’s church and had deep ties and respect for the church leaders and the parishioners. As part of the St. Anthony’s Holy Name Society, in 1971 he led the creation of the first Mahrajan festival, the largest church fund raising event and more recently helped develop the Master Plan that is now culminating in new projects to help the parish grow including a much needed cemetery expansion. He was a member of the Methuen Knights of Columbus for his entire adult life.
Although Donald had many hobbies and passions, among them golf and swimming, his real joy was his family. As a grandfather, Jido fostered a closeness among all of his children and grandchildren. He always took an active role in their education, watching and cheering for each grandchild in every sporting event and school performance he could attend. Rain or shine, Jido was a well-known figure on the sideline of many sporting events in town. We had the opportunity to vacation as a family each summer and Jido helped teach his grandchildren how to dive, swim and swing a golf club. Finally, his most memorable family accomplishment was to bring the entire extended family together each Christmas season for the past 29 years for a reunion that welcomes over 150 relatives from four generations.
Donald is survived by his daughter Alison M. Puglisi and her husband Vincent of Windham NH, his daughter Donna J. Kostandin and her husband Richard of Windham NH, his son Christopher C. George of Methuen MA and his son Stephen A. George and his wife Kathy of Dracut MA. He was fortunate to have ten very close and loving grandchildren, granddaughter Alexandra (Puglisi) Horton and her husband Benjamin of Manchester, NH, Lauren Puglisi, Lindsey Puglisi, Danielle Kostandin, Eric Kostandin of Windham, NH, Matthew George, Benjamin George, Madeleine George of Dracut MA, and Brett George and Ryan George of Methuen, MA.
Donald is also survived by his sister Virginia and her husband William Fournier of Salem NH, He is predeceased by his brother Ernest and his wife Imelda George, brother Alfred and his wife Dorothy George, brother Joseph George and his wife Adell, and his sister Marie Maloof and her husband Samuel. He has many very close nieces and nephews who also sadly miss him.
A funeral mass with be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at Saint Anthony’s Maronite Church 145 Amesbury Street Lawrence MA 01841. Visiting hours will be 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 10th 2015 at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St. Methuen, MA 01844. Donations can be made in the name of Donald A. George to Saint Anthony’s Maronite Church, 145 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
For directions or to send a condolence to Donald’s family, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the George family.