George Canty Jr.

1927 - 2016

George R. Canty, Jr, passed away peacefully at age 89 in Lincolnshire, IL after a long illness. Born on June 9, 1927 in Paris, France, George grew up as the only son of United States Foreign Service parents, George and Hazel Canty. By 14 he had lived in France, Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. He went to Andover for high school, attended Williams College, and graduated from Fordham University, where he excelled academically and athletically. A zest for intellectual problem-solving and diverse challenges led George to pursue a career in corporate law when he graduated from Columbia Law School. After serving with the U.S. Air Force in Europe - a service he continued into the 1970s as an officer in the Air Force Reserve - he started his career in New York with the New York Stock Exchange. It was then that he met the love of his life, Eunice Chadwick, in 1959, and George always viewed their marriage in July 1960 as the greatest stroke of good luck in his life. In 2010 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. He rose steadily through the corporate ranks, working for JI Case in Racine, WI and Dresser Industries and LTV Corp. in Dallas, TX. He served as General Counsel for Stanray (Chicago), Stanadyne (Hartford), and Burnup + Sims (Ft Lauderdale), before his retirement. George greatly enjoyed his 35 years in Boca Raton, FL, where he served as President of the Royal Palm neighborhood association, arbitrated securities cases all over the country in retirement, collected antiques, supported his wife's many philanthropic endeavors, and played golf with gusto. He was an enthusiastic and savvy bridge player well into his 80s, and relished visits from his sons and their families. George was predeceased by his parents and his wife Eunice. He is survived by his sons George (Rachel) of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and John (Mary) of Lake Bluff, IL, along with five grandchildren. We will miss George's curiosity and intellectual rigor, his rock-solid loyalty to friends, his upbeat approach to life, his integrity, and his devotion to his family. Visitation will be at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 Vine Ave, Lake Forest, IL on October 17 from 6-8PM, with a Mass of Christian Burial on October 18th at 11:30AM at Church of St. Mary, 175 E Illinois, Lake Forest, IL. Interment will be at the family plot at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington DC. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: Sedgebrook Staff Appreciation Fund, 800 Audobon Way, Lincolnshire, I'll 60069. Info at Wenban Funeral Home 847-234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com.