George Sutliff Jr.

George Harrison
Sutliff Jr.

George Harrison Sutliff Jr., age 89, born June 10th 1924 in Chicago, Illinois died on January 25th 2014 in his home in Corte Madera in the hands of his loving family.  At his side were his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary, his daughter Lynn, and his sons Matthew, Gregory and Craig.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George Harrison Sutliff Sr. & Evelyn Garlock Sutliff, his youngest sister Nancy Eleanor Welk, his brother Roderick Edward Sutliff and most recently by his sister Janet Evelyn Moore.

George grew up in Evanston, Illinois and attended Evanston Township High School.  In the summer of 1940, his father left banking in Chicago to move his family west to Sunnyside, California and restore his parent's farmland, which had been destroyed by a flood in 1916.  Once in California, George attended Sweetwater Union High School in National City, before returning to Evanston High School in September 1941 for his senior year.  His trip from San Diego back to Chicago became an epic travel tale filled with broken-down motorcycles, hitchhiking, freight hopping empty boxcars and flatbeds, and a final leg on the trusty Greyhound bus.

In 1943, George enlisted in the Navy and was assigned duty aboard the USS Attu (CVE-102), a Casablanca-class aircraft carrier deployed to the Pacific Theater to fight in World War II.  In 1946, he was discharged from the Navy and returned home to his family in Sunnyside, California.  During the summer of 1946 he was a lifeguard on the beaches of San Diego before the GI Bill and his football skills took him to the University of California, Berkeley.  He graduated in 1951 with a degree in Criminology.  After sustaining a career-ending knee injury, he became Senior Team Manager for the Cal football team, accompanying the Golden Bears to the Rose Bowl three times.  He was proudest of his time playing and working under legendary California football coach Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf.

George worked as an Investigator for various companies, then as a Private Investigator for Richard F. Bowen Company.   He later worked for the State of California's Department of Health and Human Services investigating Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud, retiring in 1991.  He was also a Member of the Fraternal Order of Police.

On New Year's Eve 1963 in San Francisco, George met a beautiful young woman who had just arrived from Ireland to work for only one year as a nurse. He changed those plans of hers quite quickly.  6 Months after meeting Mary Smyth from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan, the two were married on June 20th 1964 at Old St. Mary´s in San Francisco.  In rapid succession, along came Lynn, then twins Matthew and Gregory and then Craig. He and his new family settled in Corte Madera, California where his surviving wife Mary still lives in the home where they raised their children.

George loved his family and his friends.  He and Mary traveled frequently back to Ireland, England and the continent for visits and extended stays.  They also covered much of Europe, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, visiting friends, attending reunions, and keeping in touch with family.  One of his favorite spots was the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, where he and his brother Rod built a beautiful A-Frame cabin in the late 1950's.  He was an avid reader of all things historical and seemed to know of every single news item before anyone else did.  He was sharp as a tack up until the very end.  He was a man of true class:  full of charm, wit, good humor, kindness, care, love, support and honor, considered a role model for many.  His nurses stated "You have good egg written all over you!".  As the son of an Iowan, he would have been happy with that description.

He was a Boy Scout leader, and regularly attended U.S.S. Attu Ship's Reunions and was the official Ship's Historian for countless years.  He was a member of USS Saginaw Chapter #59 and California Ship Cancellation Society.  He met with fraternity brothers (formerly known as Abracadabra) from Cal once a month for lunch.

His immediate kin would like to thank all family and friends for their loving support during this difficult time.  We extend our heartfelt thanks to the 3rd  Floor crew at Marin General Hospital, Palliative Care and Hospice by the Bay. 

George will be laid to rest with military honors alongside his parents and his brother at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.  A Memorial Service and Celebration of his Life will be held in Marin at a later date. 

George will be forever loved, missed, and remembered.

Donations can be made to Hospice by the Bay, Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois or The American Cancer Society.