George Cannon Montgomery Jr.

1933 - 2025

George Cannon Montgomery Jr.

Sunapee, NH - George Montgomery, a long time resident of Sunapee, New Hampshire passed away peacefully on October 9th, 2025 in Blue Hill, Maine at the age of 91. A retired Navy Captain and senior Intelligence official, George served his country for more than 45 years. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Jennifer (Jill) Seward Montgomery in 2021.

George was born on 20 October, 1933 in Pensacola Florida, the son of Rear Admiral George Montgomery, U.S. Navy and Elisabeth Hogan Montgomery. After graduating from St George's School (Rhode Island) and Williams College (class of 1955), George was commissioned into the U.S. Navy through Officer Candidate School in 1956. In 1962 he completed a graduate program in Russian Studies at Georgetown University.

Captain Montgomery served in interesting times, from the 1958 Lebanon crisis, through combat deployments in Vietnam, and duty in Moscow, USSR from 1979 to 1982 as the U.S. Naval Attache. A career cryptologist, he deployed on ships and had multiple commands in the Navy, including command of the Naval Security Group Activity at Winter Harbor, Maine from 1972 to 1974. In 1963 he helped establish, and served as an initial watch commander on, the "Moscow-Washington Hotline" communications system between the United States and the Soviet Union. His final assignment was an extended tour at the Central Intelligence Agency as a member of the National Intelligence Council (NIC). After his retirement from the Navy, George continued working for the NIC for nearly 15 years. His service in the Navy was carried on by a son and a grandson.

After George and Jill moved to Sunapee, New Hampshire, George taught international relations at local colleges. George and Jill volunteered extensively for the New England Healing Sports Association (NEHSA) at Mount Sunapee for nearly 20 years, with both earning lifetime achievement awards. The couple, both lifelong skiers, considered working at NEHSA a splendid way to spend their "retirement". They also enjoyed scuba diving together for forty years, working with the Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society for nearly twenty years.

George is survived by three children, son Matt of Lamoine, Maine, daughter Elisabeth of Delray, Florida, and son Mark of Arlington, Virginia; two daughters in law, Jessica and Lucinda; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

A ceremony of life for George will be held in Sunapee, New Hampshire in 2026.