The world was better because of George.

George Weldon Strother, of Easton, MD, passed away on November 11, Veterans' Day, 2024. He was 86.

George was born in Rochester, PA, on May 5th, 1938, the son of George William Strother and Violet Jones Strother. He and his brother James were raised by their stepmother Kathryn (Moosman) after their mother's death as young children. Raised in Aliquippa, PA, he attended Hopewell Memorial High School, went to  college at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by medical school at George Washington University. In 1965, George married Marianne Recla of Minersville, PA, having met as a medical student and nurse at George Washington University Hospital.

George's service as a Marine (1960-1963, reservist) and Navy (1963-1968, appointed to Medical Corps) was cherished, and his lifelong dedication to family and those in need of his expertise as a physician, loving son, husband, father, and grandparent defined him. Inside his wallet, he carried the necessities-a driver's license, an AARP card, and many photos of his grandkids. They were his priority.

The influence of generations of family employed by Jones & Laughlin Steel Company,  combined with his Recla family of Minersville, PA, drove his dedication to helping steelworkers and coal miners who worked in harsh conditions which often resulted in pulmonary disease. He never stopped studying this specialty and was a lifelong advocate for a strong public health system and OSHA protections for workers.

His medical career included USNR Medical Corps (Norfolk, VA), D.C. General Hospital, Veterans Administration Hospital, Crozier-Chester Medical Center (Chester, PA), and Lee Hospital (Johnstown, PA) where he served as Chief of the Intensive Care Unit,  Director of the Pulmonary Laboratory, and Chairman, Department of Medicine.

George was a sailor, a jazz and classical music enthusiast, a champion of civil rights, and an avid tennis player. He was known to carry a copy of the US Constitution with him. But the people that he met and admired, because of those interests, meant even more to him. Dear to him were extended family and many friends from Hopewell HS athletic teams, GWU Medical School Class of 1965,  Lee Hospital (1976-1987), and Chautauqua Institution (NY), where he fed his passions for music and history as a lifelong learner.

He was an avid sports enthusiast and athlete his entire life, from his Hopewell HS quarterback and basketball days (Class of 1956), to his racquetball and running days in Johnstown, and to his tennis clubs in Easton and Chautauqua. The people he exercised with enriched his life and brought him joy.

Often private and reserved, football brought out another side of George. He was a proud member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Nation, passing on this love of watching the Steelers to his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, a Sunday watching football with the Strothers and Moosmans, or Recla family cousins, was where he made the time for connection and relaxation.  Add in a big home-cooked meal and his grandkids, and it was his perfect day.

The political history of the US and civics fed his fundamental belief in the civil right of all children to access high-quality public education. He also valued higher education and the opportunities it could provide for economic mobility and security. He supported his children's diverse experiences in the Westmont Hilltop School District and served on its Board of Education from 1986-1989.  He volunteered for the athletic department by providing students with physicals. While Lee Hospital kept him "on call" nearly 24/7, he made it to as many performances and athletic games as he could, always excited to see his children on the stage or the court.

In his final years, George was very vocal about his concerns about the future of the US. He wanted to be sure his children and grandchildren knew of his adamant support for LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, equality for women, and safe and legal abortion.  He lamented any past complicity and voted for a better future for his grandchildren.

George is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Marianne; along with their children Stuart (Julie), Pamela (Margaret) and Kimberly (George), and his grandchildren Owen, Oliver, Abby, and Kyle.

A visitation for George will be held in Mayville, New York, at Freay Funeral Home from 10am to 11am on Monday, November 18th, with a private burial to follow at Chautauqua Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in George's memory are suggested to: Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers in Easton, MD. https://cacckids.org/ways-to-give/

For online condolences, please visit:

Easton: https://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/George-Strother-3/Memories

Chautauqua/Mayville:

https://www.freayfuneralhome.com/