NEW BEDFORD — George W. Ripley III, 76, of New Bedford died Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the widower of Lillian E. (Sylvia) Ripley.
A lifelong city resident, he was born in New Bedford, the son of the late George W. Ripley Jr. and Olive (Pittsley) Ripley. He was a 1946 graduate of New Bedford High School, where he was a three-letter athlete in baseball, football and basketball. In later years, he received a doctorate in public administration from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1982.
Mr. Ripley served in the Army during World War II with the 65th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division in Osaka, Japan, from 1946-48.
He was a Gold Card member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union Local 3 of Massachusetts. He became business manager, administrator and apprentice coordinator of the former Local 39, representing New Bedford, Fall River and Cape Cod. He later was deputy director of the International Masonary Institute, and administrator and director of pre-apprenticeship programs with the National Job Corps of the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. He became commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry for Massachusetts. He was instrumental in the passage and enforcement of the state's Right to Know Law. He then became national placement coordinator for the International Masonary Institute Job Corps Program. He moved up to deputy director of the International Masonary Institute in Washington. He also was director of the National Job Corps Program with the Department of Labor.
After his retirement in 1993, he was a caucus member of the Democratic Party, president emeritus of the Greater New Bedford Inter-Church Council, and a board member of the Interfaith Care and Counseling Center and Elderly Housing Program. He was involved in several area union and trade organizations, and was founder and former chairman of the labor Education Center at UMass Dartmouth.
He was active with Quitticus Lodge AF&AM, Royal Arch Chapter. He was a longtime member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
He was an avid and knowledgeable fan of the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox.
Survivors include two sons, Geroge W. Ripley IV of Dartmouth and Charles F. Ripley of Bangor, Maine; two daughters, Bonnie English of New Bedford and Judith Ripley of South Dartmouth; a brother, Charles W. Ripley of South Dartmouth; two sisters, Leona Raposa of Brockton and Ruth Wittington of Texas; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Russell Labarge and Marjorie Vardo.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 136 Rivet St., New Bedford, Ma. Burial will be in Rural Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made in his name to the GNB Interchurch Council, 412 County St., New Bedford, MA 02740.