George C. Dillon

George Chaffee Dillon, a successful businessman and Harvard University graduate, died Feb. 16, 2013 in North Chatham. He was 90. He passed away peacefully at Liberty Commons Broad Reach Healthcare facility, after a long bout with Alzheimers disease. A native of Independence, MO., Dillon began his happy association with Cape Cod through his wife, Joan Kent, who had family in the area. The couple met in Cambridge after Dillon graduated from Harvard Business School after World War ll. They were married on Sept. 11, 1948, at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans, and held their reception at the Whalewalk Farm, owned by Joans parents. The Dillons settled in Kansas City, spending their summers on the Cape. They had three children, who survive their father | Kent of Dennis, MA.; Courtney of Portland, OR.; and Emily of Brewster, MA. Joan Dillon died in 2009 at age 84. George Dillon, after serving in the Navy and rising to the rank of Lt. Commander during World War II, earned a Masters degree in business from Harvard and soon embarked on a noteworthy career. His first job was with the J. Bruening & Co. accounting firm in Kansas City. In 1949, he moved to Butler Manufacturing, where he rose from assistant secretary to secretary in three years, gaining the position of president before becoming the chairman of the board. During that period, Butler grew from $35 million in annual sales to $400 million. Butler was 40% employee-owned, so Dillon was especially proud to help build the company to a leader in its field of pre-engineered buildings and automated farm equipment. Later, Dillon was on the board of Johns Manville Corporation, which asked him to become the chairman of the board to help manage the historic Toxic Torque bank notice in the 1980s - a first in the business world that ensured funding for victims of working with asbestos during the war who were suffering from asbesteosis mezzo felioma. The use of Chapter 11 bankruptcy was a milestone case that is describ- ed in many business-school textbooks. The Travelers Insurance company settled the claim, and the Manville trust that was set up is still in effect today. Upon retirement, Dillon moved to the familys summer home on Cape Cod in North Chatham, and became a board member of the Cape and Islands Chamber Music Festival, Eldredge Public Library, Chatham Conservation Foundation, as well as being on St. Christophers Episcopal Church Vestry and Finance committee. He was also a member of the Eastward Ho Country Club, where he played golf. He enjoyed tennis, travel, culture, crosswords, socializing with friends and bringing his family together. Funeral services will be held Saturday March 2, at St. Christophers Episcopal Church in Chatham. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, a nonprofit establishment for helping patients and families to cope with Alzheimers: http:// www.alzfdn.org/. George Dillons brain and eyes have been donated to Massachusetts General Hospital for their ongoing Alzheimers research. For online condolences, please visit nickersonfunerals. com.