George Longhurst Blick

George Longhurst Blick of Simsbury, Connecticut and Treasure Island, Florida, passed away painlessly and peacefully at the McLean Home in Simsbury, Connecticut on Christmas Eve, 2025. George was born on November 15, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois and was the son of Robert and Doris Blick. Growing up in Chicago's south side was a lifelong touchstone for GLB and a time he remembered fondly as one of constant adventure as he and his brother Robert explored the city. George attended local parochial schools and graduated from South Shore High School. He left the city for college as he graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where he majored in business and enjoyed fraternity life. He returned to Chicago briefly before he enlisted in the United States Marines to participate in the Korean Conflict. He went to boot camp at Parris Island and OC Training at Quantico before being posted to the Third Marine Air Wing in Cherry Point, North Carolina. As Major Blick he ran the base by staying out of the way of the enlisted men and non-comms who knew what they were doing and played baseball with Ted Williams. After leaving the Corps he returned to Chicago and took a position at 3M where he met his future wife, Diane. After a honeymoon in Cuba and George finishing law school the couple moved to the western suburbs where they welcomed their son Teddy. George had moved on to a position with the Aetna Life and Casualty Company where he found his niche working with the liars, loss makers, and lawyers who populated the arcane world of Bond Claim. The family eventually relocated to Hartford where the Blicks wondered about the wisdom of moving to the woods. Frequent trips back to Chicago and the family worked until they moved to their forever home in Simsbury. Kind neighbors and a forever to do list changed things for the Blicks and George found fulfilling hobbies like clock collecting, coin collecting, and card playing to pass the time . Professionally, George eventually rose to Bond Claim Director and then Assistant Vice President where he employed smart people and told them not to enter his office unless they had made or lost a million dollars. His ability to combine a mind for minute detail, an ability to team build, and a willingness to empower women in a male dominated field helped projects like the Newport Bridge, John Dempsey Hospital and myriad infrastructure projects in the west come to fruition. As time passed the Blicks grew weary of the cold and snow and purchased a second home in Treasure Island, Florida. Much like their home in the north they redid the property after George retired in 1994 and settled into a pattern of missing the New England winters and the Florida humidity and hurricanes. Diane's sudden passing in 2010 hurt GLB but he soon found his way as a widow and continued his projects, added a strong affiliation to the Marine Corps Auxiliary of St. Petersburg, and continued his avid sports fandom adding the UConn women and New York Yankees to his stable of lovable Chicago losers . Due to the changed world we live in George eventually ended up in Connecticut for an unexpected late life coda as he lost his Florida home to Hurricane Helene. As his final years passed George was taken care of by a great collection of family members and dedicated health professionals. Special thanks go to his niece, Doreen Voorhees, Alicia and the health aides at Holiday Farmington, the wonderful and persistent professionals at John Dempsey Hospital, and all of the staff and floor people at the McLean Home in Simsbury. George is survived by his son George Ted and his wife Carolyn, his nieces Pam Nightingale, Patty Fogle, and Priscilla Holly, his niece Doreen Voorhees, and his nephew Jim Voorhees. The family will celebrate George's life this summer in Chicago. As a life long dog owner who frequently had multiple Boston Terriers running about George would be pleased if you are inclined to remember him with a donation to the ASPCA or other animal related charity .