George A. Dole

1942 - 2023

George A. Dole

Shelburne, MA - August 3, 1942-November 1, 2023

George and his younger brother Bucky established Dole Brothers General Contractors in 1964. Together with the many who have been on their crew over the years, the Dole Brothers have constructed numerous structures (homes, dairy barns and other farm buildings, houses of worship, municipal buildings like fire stations, schools, and highway garages, and so many more) that stand as a legacy to the brothers' partnership. Throughout their lives the Dole Brothers (George and Bucky) were in constant communication about various projects and activities, including snow plowing and sugaring, and they lived near each other. Bucky died this spring and George missed him so much.

George married Nancy L. Dole in 1965 and together they had three children: Lynn (Jane), George, and Helen (Alex). George has six grandchildren: Wiley (Monika), Bryan, Tristan, Eliza, Leo, and Sophie, and one great-grandchild, August, whom he met the day before he died. In 2004 he married Sylvia Dole.

George was a lifelong sports fan, particularly of the Boston Red Sox. He had the rare distinction of seeing both Ted Williams' last home run as well as Carl Yastrzemski's 400th home run. As a first-year student in September of 1960 at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston; he attended a Red Sox game with a classmate whose father worked as an usher at Fenway, and they were able to get in for free after the third inning. Ted Williams hit his final home run in the eighth inning in his last at bat. In July 1979 George and his brother Bucky witnessed Yaz's 400th home run at Fenway.

George enjoyed sports throughout his life, including as pitcher on the Massamont team of the Shelburne Falls Men's Softball Team at Cricket Field in the 1970s, bowling on teams at the Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley for many years, and golfing with friends at the Ashfield Community Golf Course in his later years. When his daughter Helen was in high school he attended many Mohawk cross-country and track meets and basketball games, driving a distinctively beaten-up pickup truck. For many years, his beloved dog Tyler was by his side in that truck and everywhere he went.

George gave his time, insights, and attention to many, serving on town boards like the Finance Committee, volunteering in numerous ways, including the many years he set up the finish line apparatus for the Bridge of Flowers Road Race, and as a member of Kiwanis for 35 years. At the time of his death he was President of the Kiwanis Club in Shelburne Falls, an office he had held several times over the years. As a member of the Class of 1960 Arms Academy Reunion Committee, he maintained lifelong friendships with several classmates, including his good friend, Frank LaBelle.

Of all George's many interests, Cummington Fair was most important to him. His parents, Mary O. Dole and Stevens F. Dole, had met at the fair. George was involved with the fair throughout his life, first as an exhibitor, then as Cattle Superintendent beginning in 1962 (at age 20), and he served as President of the fair for thirty years, from 1989-2018. During his long tenure, George and his brother Bucky made many structural improvements to the fairgrounds. A 2018 dedication in the fair book states, "There is not a building on the grounds, or the hill, that doesn't have the touch of George Dole making upgrades or repairs and always taking into consideration Cummington Fair when doing all of these improvements. His main goal has always been to keep the look of the fairgrounds with a country atmosphere." The community of people who serve on the board of the Cummington Fair have been George's extended family. Donations in George's memory can be made to:

Hillside Agricultural Society/Cummington Fair

P.O. Box 3004

Ashfield, MA 01330

We invite you to join us on the afternoon of Sunday, November 19 from 1-3 pm, at Fellowship Hall in Shelburne Center to reminisce and celebrate George's life.