George Henry Witbeck, Jr , VRHS Class of 1932
Witbeck, George Henry Jr. EAST GREENBUSH George Henry Witbeck Jr. was born on December 27, 1913 in Nassau. He passed away on January 25, 2015. He attended East Greenbush Grammar School from 1920 to 1928 and graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1932. He studied History at Union College and graduated in 1937. George traveled to Puerto Rico for his first teaching assignment with the U.S. Government from 1937 to 1938. He attended Albany Law School and passed the Bar Exam on his first attempt and was admitted to the Bar in 1942. He practiced in his father's law office in Albany and upon his father's death opened his law practice in East Greenbush, the first law office in the Town. George served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 and attained the rank of first lieutenant. He remained in the reserves until 1952 in the Judicial Advocate General Department. During his 70 plus years as a lawyer he also served as the East Greenbush justice of the peace from 1949-1952. George has been married to Mabel for 68 years and is the father of four children, Marilyn G. Warner, Virginia M. Witbeck, George H. Witbeck and Janet L. Witbeck; eight grandchildren, Teralynn Warner-Farnan (Richard), Tarek L. Warner, Katelyn M. Culberson, Tyler J. Culberson, Jamison C. Witbeck, Ryan S. (Erin) Witbeck, Kyle S. (Wendy) Witbeck and Quisqueya G. Witbeck; 12 great-grandchildren, Travis, Cody, Austin Mitchison, Lauren, Liana Warner, Bella, Sully, Kiera Witbeck, Bridger, Rowan Witbeck, Sawyer, Ayla Witbeck. George loved meeting new people and traveling to exotic places. He was a visionary, who promoted progress in his town. He was responsible for transforming the original Witbeck's Dairy Farm and other properties along the 9 and 20 and Troy Road corridor in East Greenbush. He brought the first gas station, bank, shopping center, McDonalds, as well as Funplex and Lickety Split. He loved being active, the great outdoors, animals, and basic clean living.