George Edward DeWolfe

1945 - 2023

George Edward DeWolfe obituary, 1945-2023, Southwest Harbor, ME

George Edward DeWolfe

1945 - 2023

George DeWolfe Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Acadia Burial & Cremation Direct from Jul. 19 to Jul. 20, 2023.

Publish in a newspaper

George Edward DeWolfe, 78, died at home in hospice care in Southwest Harbor on July 2, 2023, after a long illness. He was born on June 23, 1945, in Garden City, NY, the son of Phillip W. and Anne (Wood) DeWolfe.

During middle school in North Carolina, George developed three interests which continued in various forms throughout his life: printing, model building, and music. He ran a small letterpress, which led to an interest in typography and graphic design that later resurfaced in his photographic printing. His model-building became a serious hobby in his 30s, when he made dioramas, historically precise models, and life-like miniature busts for which he gained national recognition. He resumed making and painting models during his retirement. George also learned to play the guitar as a preteen, beginning a long interest in popular, folk, country, and bluegrass music. He was a skillful banjo player and played in bands in graduate school and later when he moved to Maine. He continued to sing and play guitar as well, and he celebrated his recent birthday singing old songs with family.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1967, George served as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Navy stationed at the Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, during the Vietnam war. He then earned a Master of Fine Arts in photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Reading Thoreau and Loren Eiseley and studying with Ansel Adams and Minor White were major influences on the direction his art and life would take. Later he worked as a commercial photographer and taught at the New England School of Photography, University of Idaho, and Colorado Mountain College before becoming a sought-after workshop teacher.

As a young man, George loved climbing mountains – the Alps, the Tetons, the Appalachians, and others. While studying at RIT, George spent several summers working for the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire in various capacities. He was the first Artist-in-Residence at the AMC, building a photo archive for the club. His work was also featured (with others) in At Home in the Wild: New Hampshire's White Mountains, a Friends of the Earth large format photography book.

George came to MDI in 1995 to create an archive of landscape photographs for Friends of Acadia, loved the place, and never left. He was an early adopter of digital photographic methods and was involved in the development of Adobe Lightroom software, as well as special inks and papers for digital photographic printing. He authored two popular books on the technical aspects of digital printing. George had a national reputation as a printer and as a teacher, and he especially enjoyed teaching workshops at the Santa Fe Workshops for many years. His lively sense of humor found a welcome reception among students and friends.

George and his partner, Lydia Goetze, developed an approach they called Contemplative Landscape Photography which he and they taught at a variety of locations including China and the American West. His workshop students respected both his artistic vision and his technical expertise. As a result of his contemplative work, one of his students inducted him into the White Plum lineage of Japanese Zen as a sensei (teacher).

George is survived by his life partner, Lydia Butler Goetze; his son, Lucien DeWolfe of Palm Bay, FL; his grandson Mason DeWolfe of Greensburg, PA; extended family Erica Goetze (Greg Dziadurski) and Elizabeth G. Record (Mike) and five grandchildren; his sister Barbara DeWolfe of Arlington, MA; and his former wife Berni DeWolfe of FL.

There will be no service at George's request. Gifts in George's memory may be made to the Westside Food Pantry, PO Box 767, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Condolences may be expressed at www.acadiacremation.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign George DeWolfe's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

1 Entry

James Smith

January 6, 2024

Oh, George, I haven't thanked you enough for teaching me to see. George taught at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Before George I could take a good picture as editor of Rural Montana magazine. But to George, good meant ordinary-"a picture of a bird." (Insider reference that his students will recognize.) George demanded that his students transcend the good image to strive for greatness. We owe so much to him for one of the few lessons in life that, once learned, demands to be considered every day. You live that lesson every time you put a viewfinder to your eye. And you live it every time you look at a bird, every time you contemplate your own life. What a gift. God bless you, George. And the angel, Lydia, whom I have met only through George's pictures.

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results

Acadia Burial & Cremation Direct

248 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605

Make a Donation
in George DeWolfe's name

How to support George's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor George DeWolfe's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sign George DeWolfe's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?