George Grzebiliszewski Combs

1933 - 2015

George Combs
1933 - 2015
George Grzebiliszewski Combs passed away peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 16, 2015 surrounded by those who loved him.
George was born March 27, 1933 to Irena Lindner and Stan Grzebiliszewski in Poznan, Poland. He grew up during the Second World War in Kracow with his sister, Lucy, and graduated from Marcinek High School. While studying at the Medical Academy of Poznan he was a collegiate Polish fencing champion, and eventually received his Doctorate of Medicine. Upon the request of the Polish government he studied Pediatric Cardiology in Stockholm, Sweden. When he completed his studies he chose not to return to Poland but instead emigrated to Vancouver, BC. He applied and was accepted into the McGill Pediatric Anesthesiology program located in Montreal, Quebec. While on medical rotation he met Micheline who was working as a nurse. The two married on March 27, 1969 when they eloped to Verbier, Switzerland. They bought their first home together and began raising their family of 4 rambunctious boys, Stephane, Phillipe, Martin and Sacha. In 1976 George and Mich moved to Salt Lake City where he would begin his beloved career at Primary Children's Medical Hospital. Throughout his career at Primary's he touched the lives of countless families and mentored many residents. George was his own man and marched to his own beat. Even today his colleagues are passing along his conduct, insights, and techniques as "George-isms." He retired in 1993.
George was a devout friend and a consummate letter writer. He loved traveling with his wife to exotic places and particularly enjoyed visiting his family in Poland, who were always close to his heart. He had no use for financial advisors, rather he spent countless hours doing his own research and adhered to the practice of the "time value of money." George was a man of tradition, two of which were attending Salt Lake Acting Company Theater with friends, and actively partaking in the annual Christmas Party games. George was fond of lively conversations that often included the phrase "for sake of argument." Watching movies with his wife was a favorite pastime and Oscar night was always celebrated with a lobster and champagne dinner. His granddaughter Ruby, whom he loved to watch play and sing, touched a soft spot in his heart.
George also found great pleasure outdoors maintaining the yard and swimming laps in his pool. He took delight in driving his yellow Porsche. He enjoyed skiing and meeting new people on the lift where he was guaranteed to have a captive audience; these encounters were often shared later that evening around the dinner table.
George was a courageous man always up for adventure whether boating on Lake Powell, hiking the Grand Canyon, rafting the Salmon River, or heli-skiing. His greatest adventure was his storied life.
George is survived by his wife Micheline, his sons Martin and Sacha, step-sons Stephane and Phillipe, daughter-in-law Ciara, granddaughter Ruby, sister Lucy, niece Dorothy, and grand-nieces and nephew Kathy, Lucy "Gucio", and Matthew, sister-in-law Jeannine, and brother-in-law François.
A special thanks to the staff of Hospice of Utah for their responsiveness and compassion.
A memorial mass will take place on January 29th, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Newman Center adjacent to the University of Utah campus at 10:30am. A reception will be held at the Alta Club in downtown Salt Lake City from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Messages to the family can be posted at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com