George Esper

George was our print team when we returned to Vietnam Jan 89. He was excellent to workj with and a true professional. RIP sir. Gene.

I miss you each and every day George! I can't believe it's been almost a year since we last said Goodbye. I love you George! Thank you for being the friend I needed most!

Dear Prof. Esper, Thank you for your supporting for Asia. As an international student, I was so lucky to have your insightful class in WVU.

I was in Georg's class (1950) at Uniontown High School. I remember him even though he did not attend reunions,. he was too busy being a remarkable reporter. My sympathy to his family. Carlyn Scheff Kingstonn (NJ)

Uncle George, you will be missed. Rest in peace. Love, John, Robin, Amanda, Melissa, and John Jabour

George, you will be missed by your loving sister Rose. I will be with you again - until then I will think of you often. I love you George.

I worked with George in the Philadelphia bureau of the AP in the summer of 1962. In a 50-year career in the field, I've rarely come across anyone as passionate about his journalism. He was an example for us all. Thanks, George.

As a very dear friend of George, I can only imagine how his family feels. My condolences and prayers go out to all of you for the loss of such a wonderful man. He was truly special. There will never be another George Esper. As much as it hurts, I feel so blessed that he was in my life. Now, it's time to carry him in my heart and allow his words of wisdom and memories of his bright smile to guide me through the rest of my life. With him looking over me, I know I will end up exactly where I belong. I will miss you and love you always, George. Thank you for touching all of our lives. We are all better people because of you.

Dr. Esper was a true mentor and friend. I am so fortunate to have known him-- and will remember him always. My deepest sympathy goes out to Dr. Esper's family and friends.

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Take courage and have hope. "For if our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so too those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus God will bring with him."- John 4:14. My sincere condolence,
[email protected]

George,
Vietnam was your love, and there are so many people here who loved you.
As I sit in the AP Hanoi bureau you opened nearly 20 years ago, you are here with me. You always have been. I will carry you in my heart on every assignment I take, every story I write.
Rest well.

George was an inspiration and a wonderful friend to our daugher Elaine McMillion. He was such a dear person and one of the kindest people we have ever met. We will always remember what a wonderful special person he was. He will be missed by all of us. We will be praying for comfort for the family.

My deepest sympathy to George's Family. I got to know Dr. Esper through my daughter, Nicole, who was a student of George's at WVU. Besides being her professor and mentor George was her Best Friend. The first time I met George was in his office at WVU. I felt as if I had known him all my life. I was blessed to have dinner and visit with him on occasion in Morgantown with my daughter. The mold was broken with George. I have never met such a kind and caring man in my life. George loved everyone he met and showed such a deep interest in their lives. Again, my deepest sympathy to your entire family. George you will be missed. We love you!!

George was a good friend and a great guy to work with. I loved listening to him interviewing people. He was like actor Peter Falk's "Columbo" in his easy yet unrelenting approach. Wow, could he get even the toughest nut to open up. Thanks for so many wonderful memories Buddy.

George helped me get my first job at The Associated Press. And my second. And probably helped on the third as well. He was a beloved friend and colleague _ a reporter who always did his very best and set a high standard for others. He was persuasive and relentless, but never unkind. And he was a lot of fun!

George, you were like a second father to me while I was at WVU. You were more than a professor. You were a confidante, friend, mentor, and a member of my family. I consider myself blessed to have known you. My prayers are with your sons and the rest of your family during this difficult time.

Additional condolences from Ronald and Rose-Marie Fernandes and Ivan Racadag.

George was a remarkable person. He encouraged me in the classroom and then for the last decade as a mentor. I will never forget his kindness, passion for the craft and dedication to his students. He will always serve as an inspiration and role model in my life. Wishing peace and comfort during this time of loss to George's family.

What a remarkable life he led, as a dogged journalist in interesting times, then as a generous teacher and always as a fine human being who cared about others. It was a privilege and a pleasure to know him.

I told George 28 years ago he was the kindest person I had ever met. That is still true today. Good night, George.

Just last week, I was looking at George's book on Vietnam and admiring the wonderful inscription he had written inside for me during the 1986 APME in Scranton. What a gentleman, what a gem of a journalist, what a wonderful person. My sincere condolences to George's family.

May the God of all comfort, comfort the family and friends of George Esper. We all can look forward to the time when no one will have to worry about death, sorrow and getting sick because the formal things like death will have passed away.

George, there are ordinary men and great men. Anyone lucky enough to have known you is keenly aware of the difference. Rest in peace.

I feel very honored that I knew George! My deepest sympathy to all his family.

George was an inspiration to many young journalists. He was a true newspaperman and a gentleman. I am proud to have known this fantastic journalist and teacher. He will be sadly missed as a good friend.

George was an inspiration to all of us in the AP fortunate enough to call him a colleague. He made me proud to be a journalist and to work for AP. He spoke at state meetings I held several times over the years, and after each one, he would send handwritten thank yous to those he met. He was the consummate gentleman. He is one of those people you never forget.

George, you should have come to Morgantown and eaten some sushi with me before you left. It was great to have known you.

I worked with George at AP, and he was in a rarified league of journalist-poets. A wonderful writer, a fastidious reporter, a font of story ideas...and later, a professor who never hesitated to tell me about a rising young talent. Above all, George was a gentlemen.
Rest well, my friend.

I was a joy to be near George, even though he didn't know me. I am honored to have my degree from the same School of Journalism as George Esper (mine came in 1954). He was, indeed, the Ernie Pyle of the Vietnam War. RIP.

-- 30 --

All I can say is "WOW", what an amazing guy and an interesting life. RIP

A great reporter, but more than that, a great human being. To know George was to love the guy.

Although you were unknown to me, I feel as if I know you Mr. Esper.

Rest In Peace

How fortunate we were to have you for an Uncle. We love you and will miss you.

Abby and David

Please accept my deepest sympathy. God's kingdom will soon remove all wickedness from the earth. Daniel 2:44. May the God of all comfort bind your broken hearts. Psalms 147:3
Robin

I am broken hearted. I served with the 25th Infantry Division during the 1968 Tet Offensive and after being wounded, spent my recuperation days reading the daily dispatches from Saigon and told myself I wanted to be like George Esper. I became a newsman in RI and later he and I became friends when he moved to the Boston area. When I returned to Vietnam to write a series of stories, he gave me a lot of advice. He collaborated with me on a few stories about Vietnam veterans back when it was not a popular thing to do, but I felt if George was supporting me, I would be OK. He was the Ernie Pyle of Vietnam and literally wrote the diary of that war day by day. What a loss for Vietnam veterans and journalists

George was an important early mentor and friend to me. With his dogged and courageous coverage of the Vietnam War, George was a giant among journalists, and he set the standard for war correspondence. I read in the Boston Globe that he became a college professor after he retired. Fitting. I am sure his legacy will live on in the many, including me, whom he inspired.

I love you Uncle George you were the greatest. Rest in peace.

Marsha

May the God of all comfort comfort you at this difficult time. We all yern for better conditions today amidst the turmoil and it is refreshing to know that God's word speaks of a time when all sorrows will be gone and the mankind will live in beautiful sorroundings with no fear of anything bad. Isaiah 65:17,21-24 and Micah 4:4 will shed light on this. Take care.

I am sorry to hear about your loss. Grief can be so hard but our loving Heavenly Father can help us to cope. As 2 Corinthians 4:7 brings out, he can give you the power beyond what is normal. May his love and support help you during this time.

Vietnam was a long story for those of us who were in school in the sixties and seventies. Thank God for this man who told the Story like it was. Rest in Peace, Sir.

May the God of all comfort be with you in this of grief, may all George's memories stay close to your heart. Psalms 46:1 Joanna

Had the pleasure of meeting George several times at AP banquets in Boston back in the 1980's and 90's. A true gentleman journalist.

Rest in peace-your body of work makes Uniontown proud.
--Michael Daniels

I am so sad to hear of George's passing. He was larger than life to us young journalists in Massachusetts, but he always seemed to wave that off and ask us to tell him about covering the mundane world of city halls and small towns. A nicer man there was never was. I wouldn't be what I am today if he hadn't come along. With some of what he taught me by his demeanor, I wrote this. http://tinyurl.com/7axfl9e

I am so sad to hear of George's passing. He was larger than life to us young journalists in Massachusetts, but he always seemed to wave that off and ask us to tell him about covering the mundane world of city halls and small towns. A nicer man there was never was. I wouldn't be what I am today if he hadn't come along. With some of what he taught me by his demeanor, I wrote this. this.

Rest in Peace