OLMSTEAD III, George

The family of George Tracy Olmstead III is sad to announce his passing.

Born April 30, 1944, in Savannah, GA, George was the son of George Tracy Olmstead, Jr.. and Julie Beckett Olmstead.

Young George began an outstanding career in sports during his high school years. He lettered in football and excelled in basketball, where he was the most valuable player and team captain. In track, he placed first in the 880-yard run in the city, first in the high jump, and second in high hurdles for the state.

Graduating from Country Day in 1963, George attended the University of Georgia, where he pledged Kappa Alpha, just as his father had. While there, he continued his participation in sports, playing intramural football, basketball, and tennis. He was a walk-on for the basketball team his freshman year.

After college, George married Lilla Calhoun and had three sons: Lionel Drew, George Tracy, and Jonathan Calhoun Olmstead. Living in Savannah, George participated in the community and was recognized by the local chamber as the Outstanding Young Man of the Year.

Following Savannah, George lived in Amelia Island and Jacksonville, continuing in the insurance business.

After moving to Atlanta and meeting Amanda Brown at the Atlanta Steeple Chase in the spring of 1978, the couple married shortly thereafter on August 25, 1978, and began a fabulous lifelong journey together.

He was a partner in the executive search firm Blackshaw, Olmstead, Lynch, and Konig, and eventually ran Olmstead, Lynch, and Curtis until his retirement in 2021.

Active in the community, George was a member of the boards of Young Audiences, Very Special Arts, the Young Men's Round Table of the High Museum, the Piedmont Park Conservancy, and the Georgia Conservancy. Also, while daughter Blake attended Oldfields school in Glencoe, Maryland, Georgie served on the school's board.

Enjoying life in the Brookwood Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, Amanda and George raised a family of three children, Vanessa Kathleen, Olivia Blake, and Frederick Jamieson Olmstead.

George particularly loved his family vacations, whether on Lake Rabun, Sea Island, a dude ranch in Colorado, or a weeklong stay in a remote village in Italy. They were always fun because of George's playful personality.

He treasured his 1/18 partial ownership in Belle, the 78-foot yacht that his family enjoyed two or three times a year, taking trips along the East Coast from New England to the Bahamas. On a few special weekends, Belle docked in the inland waterway to attend the Georgia-Florida game.

As a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, he served on the vestry and was treasurer. Along with his wife, Amanda, he served as a Sunday School teacher for their three children's confirmation classes and other adult classes with various subjects.

Fascinated by his heritage, George delved deeply into his history, becoming an active member of the Society of the Colonial Wars. He was so proud that his family had come from England to America in 1632 on the ship Lyon and that his ancestors were traced back to 1242. The Society of Colonial Wars became a major focus of his civic activities. George helped build the organization and became the head of the Atlanta Chapter as Lieutenant Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars for the State of Georgia.

Throughout his adult life, George continued to excel in sports, particularly tennis, where he won numerous awards and trophies that filled the library shelves at 274 Paces Ferry, the Olmsteads' home for 22 years. He was a member of the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta and the Oglethorpe Club in Savannah, where the couple had a second home. Shortly after purchasing the 1850 historic home in Savannah, George became a member of the Board of the Savannah Music Festival and once again became active in the community.

In his wife's presence, he was often seen flirting with other women and saying, "Call me." When a photographer came to photograph the couple or a group, Olmstead always said, "How about some of just me?" One of the most endearing of his quips was, "I was born at an early age." Dapper and well-mannered Olmstead was the epitome of a southern gentleman, with an incredible sense of humor and style.

In addition to his wife Amanda, George is survived by sisters, Mary Martha Olmstead and Julie Beckett Olmstead; his five children: George Tracy Olmstead, Jr. (Kathy), Jon Calhoun Olmstead (Jill), Vanessa Kathleen McCulley (Colby), Blake Olmstead Mavrogeorgis (Peter), and Frederick Jamieson (Melissa; and his grandchildren, Nate, Nicholas, Julia, Julian, and Evangeline; sister and brother-in-law, Adele and Dan Tyler; and nephews and nieces, Roddy Ovetsky, Sam Ludden, Elise Tyler, and William Tyler.

Even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021, George continued to walk his two beloved dogs, Archie and Chancey, every day until recently. A day never went by without a special treat from the chocolate chip cookie jar. He also enjoyed his daily chocolate Chick-fil-A milkshakes, no toppings, except on Sunday.

In addition to his parents, those who preceded him in death included his son, Drew Olmstead; and grandson, Lowell Olmstead.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2:00 PM at All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30308. If you wish, donations in his memory can be made to the Society of Colonial Wars (SOCW), Atlanta, Georgia Conservancy, or All Saints Episcopal Church.