George M. "Bud" Lethbridge Jr.

Essex - George M. "Bud" Lethbridge Jr., a resident of Essex Meadows, for six years and Lyme for 18 years prior to that, died peacefully on Monday, May 20, 2013, with his three children around him, Sally Hunsdorfer (Peter Hunsdorfer) of Marion, Mass., Thomas "Todd" Lethbridge of Sierra Madre, Calif., and Scott Lethbridge (Catherine Aubrey Lethbridge) of Yonkers, N.Y.

Bud was born and raised in Upper Montclair, N.J., in 1925. He graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1943 and Princeton University in 1947, where his studies were interrupted by his service in the Army Air Corps, now the U.S. Air Force. During a training mission, Bud survived a crash that took the lives of fellow crew members.

Bud spent his professional career at General Electric until he retired in 1980.

His wife, Helen (Thomas) Lethbridge, died in 1986. She was the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., at the time of her passing. Bud followed in Helen's footsteps and served on the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer from 1990 to 1999. Bud chaired the finance committee, and under his leadership, the college doubled the size of the student body and built new facilities, including dormitories. Both Helen and Bud independently received the Susan Colby Cleveland Award for Distinguished Service to the college, and in 2002, the college dedicated a new recreational and study center to Helen and Bud, naming it Lethbridge Lodge.

Bud spent 80 summers returning to Point O' Woods on Fire Island, N.Y., a community he loved and where many of his lifelong friendships began.

In addition to his three children, Bud is survived by his brother, John D. "Jack" Lethbridge; and four grandchildren, Thomas "Todd" Hunsdorfer, Ben Hunsdorfer, Aubrey Lethbridge, and Charlotte Lethbridge.

Bud was known for his humility, unwavering interest in others, loyalty to his friends and schools, dedication to his family, and for being the last one left on the dance floor. There will be memorial services at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, in Hamilton Hall at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, and at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, at The Church at Point O' Woods on Fire Island.

Donations in Bud's name may be made to The Himalayan Project (himalayanproject.org), or Musica Sacra (musicasacrany.org), organizations that he supported and his children champion.