George Singleton

George Joseph Singleton, a longtime resident of Osprey, Florida and Alton, New Hampshire passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, at home with his family by his side, after losing his short battle with cancer. He was born on April 24, 1944, in Buffalo, New York to his loving parents George and Rita (Gabner) Singleton. He graduated from St. Joe's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, University of Detroit (B.S. Electrical Engineering) and Rochester Institute of Technology (M.B.A)
On August 27, 1988, in Avon, Conn., he married the love of his life, Bernice Steinberg who survives at home. George experienced great pride and unbounded joys as a father and grandfather. George was previously married to Susan Tappan with whom he had four children. Besides his wife, Bernice, he is survived by his incredibly loving family, sons Christian (Christine) Singleton of Orlando, FL, Timothy Singleton of Dolores, CO, Peter (Kerri) Singleton or Dolores, CO and daughter Virginia (Scott) Meloche of Orlando, FL, 11 grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Patricia (Michael) Murphy.
George had a successful 50-year career as an engineer, businessman and entrepreneur. In 1971, he began at Stromberg-Carlson in Lake Mary, Florida as Manager of Manufacturing Support. For the next ten years, he worked on the initial telephone systems installed in the newly opened Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. George was employed at San/Bar Corporation in Garland, Texas as their Vice President and General Manager (1981-1984). He was a Vice President of Operations for United Technologies Corporation, as well as holding other managerial positions for UTC in Longwood, Florida, Bloomfield, Connecticut and Tucson, Arizona (1984-1990).
In 1990, George and a group of Investors bought out his UTC division at Hamilton Test Systems Corp., moving all operations to Tucson, Arizona. In 1994, along with his son Chris and longtime friend, Jim Giuliano, George bought a struggling manufacturing company in Orlando named Unique Electronics and the trio successfully managed the company back to profitability. Unique is still prospering under the leadership of Chris and Jim Giuliano, Jr.
In 2000, George and Bernice retired and joined The Oaks Club community in Osprey, Florida. They also enjoyed many wonderful summers in Alton, New Hampshire hosting their family and friends, boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, fishing, water-skiing, and sunset cruises. George continued to lead an active lifestyle even after his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2018, playing golf, tennis, pickleball and cheering on his teams, Michigan State, Auburn, and the Buffalo Bills. George and Bernice travelled the world visiting six` continents, enjoying numerous cruises and land tours with family and friends.
George was a modest, kind and loving spirit with a great dry sense of humor. He was also a wonderful storyteller. To his family, he was larger than life and fiercely loved. He will be greatly missed and warmly remembered.
There will be no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, Florida. A reception will follow at the Church's Spirit Center.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O Box 4777, New York, New York 10163, give.michaeljfox.org, or Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, fundraise.moffitt.org