David L. George

David L. George - March 20, 1938 to May 11, 2018. Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly David Louis George passed away at Bayside Care Center, Morro Bay, CA, as a result of congestive heart failure. Dave was born in Canton, Ohio to Louis and Sophia (Macioch) George, where his early years were influenced by a large extended family. At age 15, he moved to Oceanside, CA where he was raised by his grandmother who immigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century from Qatana, Syria. Their generation gap was an education for both, with one foot in the old world and another in a quiet southern California beach town in the 50s. Dave was proud of his success managing work, academics and athletics in high school, graduating at the top of his class while lettering in three sports for three years. He continued with football, basketball and baseball while working and attending Mira Costa College in Oceanside, transferring to San Diego State with a football scholarship where he graduated as a History major in 1961. His first job upon graduation was with the Campbell Soup Company until 1967. He served in the Air Force Reserves from 1961 to 1967. Dave married Barbara Gabriel in 1964. Dave received his MS in Political Science from SDSU and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Oregon. Post-doctoral studies were at the University of Michigan followed by a visiting professorship at SDSU. His Fellowship at Yale University was awarded for study in Political Psychology with Dr. Irving Janis to research group dynamics, specializing in "groupthink," or consensus through conformity, without thoroughly analyzing ideas or concepts. Dave served for a year in the CSU Chancellor's Office developing and implementing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for use by professors in the CSU system. He distinguished himself as a professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo from 1970 until retirement in 2005 where he influenced generations of students to aspire, excel and achieve. He challenged conventional thinking and encouraged excellence in research. Dave was a voracious reader of professional journals and nonfiction books and articles relating to history, social justice, culture and politics. Dave is predeceased by his second wife, Margie Eldredge; his grandmother, Louisa George; his parents; and his niece, Air Force Colonel Faith Thomas. He is survived by his first wife, Barbara; his cousins: Frances Corning, Margaret Bengs and Michael George; stepchildren: Brad, Scott and Tracey Bennett; and numerous nieces and nephews. Please join family and friends for a Celebration of Dave's Life at 3:00 pm, Thursday, June 28, at the Morro Bay Yacht Club, 541 Embarcadero. If you wish to make a charitable gift in his memory, Dave has designated French Hospital Cardiac Center among the charities he is remembering.