George Tracy

Tracy, George M., 85, of Second Street, Air Force Veteran, retired educator, coach, and sports official died on March 2, 2011. He was the husband of the late Hope (Osterberg) Tracy. A resident of Narragansett, Mr. Tracy previously resided in Johnston and Providence. He was the son of the late John and Susan (Brothers) Tracy and the brother of the late John F., James W., and Leo J. Tracy, as well as Marie Gilheeny, and Genevieve Dwyer. He was also the brother of Paul E. Tracy of Johnston. Mr. Tracy was at heart an educator. He started his teaching career at LaSalle Academy; served as High School Headmaster, teacher, class advisor and coach at North Providence High School; and Head of the Guidance Department at Smithfield High School. He also was the Youth Corps Director/Counselor at Tri-Town Economic Opportunity Committee and a Pro-Bono GED Tutor at the Washington County Adult Learning Center. He was also a member of the R.I. Retired Secondary Principals Association. His first love was athletics and Mr. Tracy spent over 50 years as a sports official for football, basketball, and baseball at the high school and college levels working over 3000 games. In North Providence, he coached Little League, Cross Country and Basketball. He was a Past-President of the Association of Baseball Umpires of Rhode Island, R.I. Association of Football Officials, Rhode Island Basketball Officials Association, and the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association. He was also a member of the Providence Gridiron Club, National Football Foundation, Narragansett Boosters Club, Narragansett Recreation Advisory Committee, as well as Co-Founder of the North Providence Boosters Association. His efforts were recognized by various awards over the years including: Rhode Island Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1991); Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame (1995) ; Association of Baseball Umpires of Rhode Island - Pard Pierce Award (1995); Rhode Island Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame - Special Award Recipient (1999); Rhode Island College Athletic Hall of Fame (2000); Rhode Island Football Officials - Elizabeth Porter Award (2003); Rhode Island Interscholastic League Athletic Hall of Fame (2003); Rhode Island Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame; Rhode Island Basketball Officials Hall of Fame; and the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials - Arthur "Buster" Iannotti Memorial Award (1987), Bill Kutneski Memorial Heritage Award (1997), Outstanding Service Award (1999). Mr. Tracy was on the Board of Directors of the Jonnycake Center and Galilee Beach Club Association. He was a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Dillon Council and served as District Deputy/Program Director of the State Council Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Narragansett Lions Club, Narragansett Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish and its Men's Club, Narragansett Community Center, Narragansett/URI Coalition, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of South County, Shamrock Society of North Providence, and the American Legion. Serving in the political arena, he was an elected delegate to the 1976 and 1980 Democratic National Conventions. Mr. Tracy also worked on the campaigns of Senator Pell, Governors Roberts and Garrahy and was a member of the National Education Association of Rhode Island's Political Action Committee. He was also on the Narragansett Town Council. Mr. Tracy is survived by his children M. Tracy Kubricky of Narragansett, her husband Donald, George M. Tracy, Jr. of Coventry, his wife Suzanne, and Jacquelyn H. Tracy of Narragansett and his five grandchildren Christopher, Elizabeth, and Jonathan Kubricky, and Ted and Michaela Tracy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on MONDAY at 10 am in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Narragansett, RI. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church, South County Hospital, or Rhode Island College Athletics in his memory would be appreciated. Visiting hours are on SUNDAY from 4 to 8pm in The Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home 142 Centerville Rd., WARWICK. For online expressions of sympathy, visit www.boyleandsonfuneralhome.com