George Thomas Terris

Terris, George Thomas Of Sarasota, FL. Born January 10, 1922; entered Eternal Life July 5, 2011. A native of Milwaukee, WI, George is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Valerie (nee Stacy), his son, Stacy George (Susan) Terris, his daughter, Poppy (Geoff) Terris Spencer; grandchildren Kimberly (Matthew) Carlson, Kelly (Bryan) Rooney, Clayton Terris, Christopher Terris, George Scheibel, Molly Scheibel; two great-granddaughters; a sister, Irene Terris Savas. George attended the University of Wisconsin, entering the Coast Guard during World War II. After the war he graduated from Marquette University. George began his business career as a Vice President and General Manager for the former Stacy Vending Company, a local food service company serving industrial plants, schools and hospitals. Having successfully built the company into the largest in southeastern Wisconsin, it was subsequently sold to Automatique, Inc., a national firm in the same industry. George eventually succeeded as President of Automatique retiring in 1987. He was also a shareholder and director of the former Cavalla Tobacco Company, a family business dating back to 1908, that was one of the country's largest suppliers of broad-line products to the retail drug and convenience store industry. In 1975, George and his family began spending time on Longboat Key, FL., and in 1995, he and Valerie permanently moved to Sarasota. George was a longtime member and past director of Sara Bay Country Club and a member of Bird Key Yacht Club. In Milwaukee, he was a proud member of the Milwaukee Club and a member and past director of, The Town Club and Ozaukee Country Club. George was a lifelong athlete. He competed throughout high school and college playing football, running track and excelling as a boxer. While at UW Madison he was known by the sobriquet, "The Hammer", and was a member of UW's 1942 NCAA championship boxing team. Later in life he was an avid golfer and tennis player, and was for many years a member of the Milwaukee Curling Club. Above all, he loved football, which for him was best defined by the Green Bay Packers and UW Badgers. George said that Valerie was the best thing that ever happened to him, and their love for one another flourished for a spectacular fifty-nine years. He loved nothing more than taking Val touring through the European countryside every fall, with a particular fondness for motoring through France, and on occasion sharing these journeys with his children and grandchildren. Partial to French wines, he was a former member of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, an international association of Burgundy wine connoisseurs participating in the Milwaukee and Southwest Florida chapters. Whether it was a round of golf, a set of tennis, or hand of gin, George was always a competitor. A true gentleman and a man's man, he will be missed by all that knew him. Services are private. The family wishes to thank the entire caregiving staff of Tidewell Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234, the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202, and Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.