George Whitehead

Sailed through Panama Canal as an infant

LACONIA — George Goethals Whitehead, 94, of Laconia passed away July 26, 2009.

He was born on June 3, 1915, in Pedro Miguel, Panama Canal Zone, to Mary Katharine and Richard H. Whitehead. His father later became president of Scott & Williams.

As an infant, he sailed on the first battleship to pass through the Panama Canal.

George moved to Laconia from Guilford, Conn., in 1976. A retired lawyer, he graduated from Hopkins Grammar School in 1934, from Amherst College in 1938, and Yale Law School in 1941. He worked as an attorney of the Labor Relations Board, then served in the armed forces from 1942 to 1945. After the war, he was prosecutor of the Guilford town court, Assistant Attorney General, and law partner of George Conway, Connecticut's Attorney General.

A true Atticus Finch, he served the legal needs and collected colorful anecdotes from the lives of many of the eccentric characters of this small Connecticut town. By his own admission, he gave away more money than he kept for himself. He helped to found and provided the land for the Lutheran Church of Madison, Conn. A friend described him as "a real New England gentleman."

He was predeceased by his wife, Norma Wiersig (1989), his son, George Goethals Jr. (2005), and his three brothers, Lewis (1963), John (1988) and Richard (2005).

He is survived by four daughters, Professor Jane Whitehead of Valdosta, Ga., Jean O'Brien of Woodbury, Conn., Freda Wood of Clinton, Conn., and Patricia Swanson of Madison, Conn.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the Genesis-Laconia Center for its compassionate care.

He was a member of the New Haven County Bar Association, Laconia Lodge of Elks 876, Wilkins-Smith American Legion Post 1, and a life member of Mory's Association.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Aug. 9, 2009, at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia.

Donations may be made to the Laconia Lodge of Elks No. 876 Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 676, Laconia, N.H. 03247.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.