George Gorgas Twitchell

George Gorgas Twitchell of Bloomfield, CT passed away October 9, 2016. George was pre-deceased by his wife Anne Barton Twitchell, his brother Henry D. Twitchell, Jr., and his sister Nancy T. Anthony. He is survived by his sister Claire T. Grant of Mechanicsburg, PA, sister-in-law Jean B. Twitchell of Falmouth, ME, daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) T. Alexander and husband David of Columbia, MD, son Steven B. Twitchell and wife Bobbi of Bethel, CT, son James P. Twitchell and wife Ellen of Chelmsford, MA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren-Colin and Jeremy Alexander; Garrett, Adam, and Audrey Twitchell; Jennifer, Kate, and Kevin Twitchell; and extended family members Ellen S. Twitchell of Milford, CT and Gail Pond of Avon, CT. George was born in Hartford, CT on February 3, 1925. He grew up in West Hartford and graduated from Hall High School in 1943 after which he joined the U.S. Navy to serve his country in the North Atlantic and South Pacific theatres. Upon his return he settled in the Boston area. In 1948 he married Anne D. Barton, and in 1950, he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at MIT. After moving back to the Hartford area, he pursued a career in homebuilding and land development during which he designed and oversaw the construction of custom homes in the West Hartford area. In 1968, the Twitchells purchased an historic farmhouse and acreage in Barnard, VT. Years of DIY home and land improvements followed, and despite its eventual sale, George's spirit remained with his cherished Vermont meadows, ponds, and maple groves. George was also a talented versifier, pianist, and calligrapher. He left behind a rich body of work. He also was passionate about bicycling. George and Anne were a frequent sight around town on their French tandem bicycle. Group tours took them through challenging terrain in California, France, and New England. When a knee injury limited George's bicycling, the couple turned to walking tours of the British Isles and France. In 2008 the Twitchells moved to the Seabury Retirement Community in Bloomfield where George became an ardent iPad afficionado and a champion "Words with Friends" competitor. Visits with his beloved wife Anne were the highlight of his days. The Twitchell family is profoundly grateful for the tender loving care that Anne and George received at Seabury. Contributions in George's memory can be made to Seabury, Americare, or the National Spasmodic Torticollis Association (NSTA).