George William Stephenson

1934 - 2022

STEPHENSON

GEORGE WILLIAM STEPHENSON

Passed away on April 13, 2022, with his devoted wife Sandy, and loving sister Nancy, at his side. George was predeceased by his parents, daughter Laura and two older siblings, Phyllis and Joe. Surviving George is his wife of 34 years Sandy; two younger siblings, Donald (Alice) and Nancy; two daughters, Sharon (Rob) and Janet; mother-in-law Mary; brothers-in-law Ed (Tammy) and Mike (Renee); cherished nephew Kris; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

George was considered an icon in the printing industry and was revered, respected and honored by his colleagues locally, nationally and even internationally.

Born in 1934 to George and Miriam Sykes Stephenson, George grew up on H Street just across from the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he was extremely proud to have been baptized by the Rev. Peter Marshall. After taking printing in junior high school and, at the same time, working nights and weekends as a pressman, George left school before he finished the 10th grade. In 1951, at the age of 17, George's future leadership skills grew as he joined the DC Army National Guard achieving the Expert Level Marksmanship Badge and rank of Sergeant First Class. In 1959, with only a used one-color press, George started his first print shop - Stephenson Printing.

By 1961, with the company growing quickly, he moved to a bigger space on Channing Street and added his first new press. With the advent of color television, George again made history becoming the first printer in the DC area to install a 4 and then 6-color press. From then on, being the first to install the newest equipment or technology became the norm. In 1979, George's hard work and determination resulted in moving the company once again to a custom built plant just inside the beltway in Alexandria.

For many, there are fond remembrances of George's famous Crab poster and invitations to boat trips across the bay to St. Michaels. For thousands throughout the country, his annual "Images" appointment books and calendars come to mind. With up to 1300 entries each year and an average of 60 images, those calendars became renowned for their quality of production and pure beauty.

Over the years, under George's direction, his company won hundreds of local, national and even international awards including World Awards for Best Color and Best Printing. Along the way, George was personally honored numerous times including the Art Directors Club's first ever Partnership Award and award of Lifetime Membership, by the printing industry's prestigious induction into The Soderstrom Society and The National Printing Hall of Fame.

2022 marked George's 63rd year not only working but mentoring others in the printing industry. For that reason, George became known to some as the "Grandfather of Printing" and to others the "Godfather of Printing." Training young people and his employees to achieve their highest potential was George's passion. While higher education was unattainable for George, he realized what a true gift it would have been for him and is for young people. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in George's honor to either Camp Letts, PO Box 208, Edgewater, MD 21037 or to a child's education fund.

A memorial service celebrating George's life will be held at 1 p.m. on May 15, 2022 at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. For directions and parking, please contact the church office at 202-393-3700 or adminoffice@nyapc.org. George's remains will be interred In Morgantown, WV, a place he loved and wanted to be his final resting place.