George Sanford Durland

George Sanford Durland, 91, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025. George was born on March 9, 1934, in Franklin, New Jersey, to George Reeve Durland and Frances Cornelia Sanford Durland. His family lived on Lake Mohawk where he learned to appreciate nature at a young age. He enjoyed fishing, swimming, diving and ice skating.

George graduated from Newton High School in Sparta, New Jersey, in 1952. He then attended Cornell University where he received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1957. George’s father worked at the Franklin Zinc Mine and George would spend a couple of summers working at the mine during this time. While at Cornell George was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and ROTC. After Cornell, George served in the Navy. George joined IBM as an Engineer in 1959. Soon after, IBM moved George to the Washington, DC area. While working for IBM he worked overseas in both France and Germany. George remained at the company until his retirement in 1990.

George married Elsie Michelle Comorat on November 28, 1964. They soon moved to their home in Potomac, Maryland, where they would live for the next almost 60 years. George and Elsie had two children, Karen and Eric. George made a point to pass on his love of nature to his children including wildflowers, rocks and minerals, birds, butterflies and moths. Family trips included going to Bethany Beach, a big trip out west, Smith Beach on the bay, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, Deep Creek Lake, trips to look for fluorescent minerals, skiing, and more.

He was a long-time member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation where he sang in the choir for many years. He also led nature walks during Spring Bee and was a long-time member of the Science and Religion group.

George was also a member of the Gem, Lapidary, and Mineral Society of Montgomery County Maryland, also known as the “Rock Club”, where George was an active member, including serving as President, and contributed by doing many demonstrations and displays of his collection of fluorescent minerals.
George is survived by his daughter Karen Durland and her husband Scott Braun and their daughter Norah Braun; his son Eric Durland and wife Alison Durland and their children Edward Talbott Durland and Nathan George Durland. He is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie Comorat Durland and his brother William Frederick Durland of Monroe, North Carolina.

A service to celebrate George's life will be held on December 21, 2025 at 3 pm, at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Family and friends are invited to attend and share memories to honor George’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation in George’s memory.