George R. Searle

(Asbury Park Press)
(Home News Tribune)

GEORGE R. SEARLE
AGE: 81 EAST BRUNSWICK
George R. Searle, 81, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at home with his family at his side. Born in Elizabeth, he resided in Carteret before moving to East Brunswick in 1973. He owned and operated many businesses in New Jersey, but is best known for purchasing the Staten Island ferry, The Mary Murray, which has rested on the banks of the Raritan River for over 25 years. George was a founder and 50 year member of the Manufactured Home/Mobile Home Park Owners Association. George served in the United States Merchant Marines in World War II, and in the Army in the Korean War. He was the national president of the American Merchant Marine Veterans for 5 years and formed the first Merchant Marine and Armed Guard council in the US Navy League. He received an honorary Doctorate of Science from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. He also belonged to the Carteret Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, Carteret Post American Legion and was a Life Member of the Korean War Veterans. Along with his friend Joseph Katusa, George was instrumental in the Merchant Marines who served from 1945 to 1946 being granted Veteran Status, through Bill HR44, which passed in 1990. Dedicated to this mission, he traveled to Washington often to personally speak to Congressman and Senators to get this bill passed. A 32nd degree Mason, and member of the Azar Lodge #22, Free and Accepted Masons, George also belonged to the Crescent Temple, AAONMS (Shriners), Livingston, and Legion of Honor. He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Spotswood. A trustee of the 200 Club of Middlesex County, he was an honorary trustee and Silver Life Member of the Carteret PBA, and a member of the Perth Amboy Yacht Club, and East Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. He was also a pilot and member of the AOPA for 45 years.
He was predeceased by his parents, James and Anna Searle; and his sister, Dorothy Fennessy. Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Irma Gebhardt Searle; his 3 children, Georgann Benhardt and her husband Robert, June Klem and her husband Frank and James Searle and his wife Danielle, all of East Brunswick; his brother, James Laurie, Sarasota, FL; and his 5 grandchildren, Daniel, Jacquelyn, Georgina, Zachary and Olivia.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 505 Main St., Spotswood. Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. Friends may call at The Brunswick Memorial Home, 454 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, on Saturday from 2-5 PM and Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM. For directions, please visit www.brunswickmemorialhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the 200 Club of Middlesex County, PO Box 387, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 (www.middlesex200club.org).