George S. Einstein

1919 - 2011

After 91 years of living, loving and enjoying life, George Einstein died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 22, 2011. One of the closest relatives of Albert Einstein, George moved to Sandestin, Fla., from Canton Center, Conn., in 1997 after retiring a few years earlier. He was a much-beloved philanthropist, and was active in the South Walton community. The Florida sunshine and the beach were integral to his daily life, and he never tired of observing the beauty of his adopted home.
George began his engineering career in his native Stuttgart, Germany, where he excelled in what would today be the equivalent of a graduate engineering internship at the Bosch Company. However, George prudently left Germany in his late teens as the Third Reich made life very difficult for Jews, especially one with so prominent a last name. He joined his older brothers, Hans and Robert, who had previously immigrated to the United States after serving in the U.S. Navy Seabees in the Pacific during World War II, George earned his U.S. citizenship and settled in Connecticut.
George was a brilliant engineer, whose career focused on developing specialized blades for aircraft and turbines at the manufacturing firm he and partner Paul Campbell built, New England Aircraft. Albert Einstein took a particular interest in George's career and company. George frequently visited him in Princeton where George, an accomplished cellist, often played with a musical group in which Albert played violin. New England Aircraft quickly grew from a small "shop" outfitted with World War II surplus the young partners purchased second-hand to a thriving international business. George was much beloved and respected by his employees, and the company was awarded a regional honor as one of the best companies to work for. The firm still operates today.
A man about whom many superlatives have been written and said, George's quiet strength and humility made a positive impact in so many ways. Although circumstances scattered his family, his parents and siblings all became U.S. citizens. George's home in Berlin, Conn., became a summer gathering place for the family, complete with his trademark barbecues where attendees could typically include 7-year-old neighbors to musicians and physicists. George is survived by seven nieces and nephews: Jennifer Howard of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., Daniel Einstein of Los Angeles, Calif., Elizabeth Simpson of Lexington, Ky., Jacob Samuel of Santa Monica, Calif., Judith Samuel of Santa Monica, Jonathan Samuel of Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Susan Einstein of Los Angeles. A loving and involved uncle, George worked in his quiet way to ensure the family remained very close. The family gathered in Sandestin last year in honor of George's 90th birthday.
George is survived by his older sister, Lisa Samuel, a retired nurse living in Nahariya, Israel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Jenny Einstein; his sister, Eva Einstein; and brothers, Hans Lehmann and Robert Einstein.
George was widowed twice. He was married for 25 years to Ruth Mari Asimov Einstein. After he moved to Sandestin, he married Elaine Nichols, who died in April 2008.
He will be remembered for his love of life and learning. George was an inveterate traveler who thrived on his visits and adventures to unique and far-flung spots around the globe. He was an avid reader and had a remarkable interest in learning about new technology and advances. Always ready to try something new whether it be a restaurant or a computer program, George's optimism about progress was an inspiration. Music played a large part in George's life, and he was one of the earliest supporters of the Marlboro Music Festival in Marlboro, Mass.
George was very proud to have participated in one of our area's Honor Flights that flew World War II veterans to the Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and very much enjoyed the breakfast discussions of its men's group.
A Memorial Evening honoring George will be held on Wednesday evening, March 30, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sandestin Beach Club in Sandestin Resort. The family requests that those interested in honoring George's memory might contribute to the American Cancer Society, of which George was a committed supporter, 99 Eglin Parkway N.E., Suite 37, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.