George Dannal Stormes

Born October 23, 1931, Brewster, Washington. Mother, Anita D. Hayes, Father, George Stormes, Brewster, Washington.

Siblings: Claude, Jame, Mark, Jann.

Passed March 26, 2025, Westlake Village, California.

George moved from Washington as a young boy with his parents, to California. There, his father performed many odd jobs to provide for his young family. To look back at his childhood he would relate it to being a vagabond. The one important thing he gleaned from that time was his love of books. He immersed himself into them every chance he had, that continued until his last days on Earth.

In 1949, he joined the United States Navy, and was honorably discharged in rank as Boatswain Mate, in 1953. During his time in the Navy, he served on the East Coast, where he met and married his first wife, Josephine Faustino, in 1952. They had three children together, Cheryl, George, and Genita.

Upon his discharge he and his new family moved to the San Fernando Valley, in Southern California, where he began his college courses at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, and went to work at Pacific Telephone in Reseda, California. He worked as a Cable Splicer during the day and took another job at a local drive in theatre in Reseda, the Reseda Drive In, working a Night Shift.

The management at the Reseda Drive In hired him to be a "bouncer" of sorts. When cars would drive through with one or two boys in a large car, they looked to be suspect. Nine times out of ten, the vehicles trunk would be stuffed with boys wanting to sneak in for free. George would hop on his bike, wait for them to park, back in the "passion pit" and then casually tap on the trunk lid. Lo and behold, lots of boys who hadn't paid to see the show would be escorted out, or would pay to see the movie.

In the area of 1960, he divorced his wife. On October 24, 1962, he married the "love of his life", Gloria Rech, she had a daughter, Lynda. Upon graduating from Calif. University, Northridge, with the title of Summa cum laude, he reached his ultimate career position, he took the test for Certified Public Accountant.

George went to work for a small Accounting firm, and also taught Accounting at Woodbury College, in Los Angeles, and taught night classes at Pierce College, in Woodland Hills, California. The small Accounting firm was beginning to expand their clientele, from men's clothiers, and other small businesses, and was now representing some toy companies. It was time to move into a larger office space, and into a more prestigious zip code.

The Agency had originally hired him to run the financials for the company, but before long, Sachs, Finley made him a partner in the Agency, and the new name for the company became Sachs, Finley and Company. George was always a humble man, hence he didn't believe his name was pertinent to the Agency's title.

A decade or so passed and two young fellas came into the Agency, "hawking" the idea of cartoon figures who might "morph" from being teenage boys, who had a love for pizza, into turtles, and to have super powers. They had shopped this idea up and down Wilshire Bivd., in Los Angeles, hoping to make a deal to launch their idea. No one had been interested until they walked into Sachs, Finley & Company. There was born, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". With the creative minds of the men behind the advertising agency, and the money guy, "George", they created a powerhouse icon almost overnight, by adding the idea of making toys for the kids to play with while watching their cartoons. Shortly thereafter came "The Power Rangers", and their toys, as well.

In between George's career in the Agency, George continued to read the volumes of books he was amassing, many of which were First Editions from the Master of Writers.

George loved everything "outdoorsy.” He backpacked up into the High Sierras every year for over 40 years. He was an avid runner, ran the first Los Angeles Marathon in 1986, and would travel to other marathons to participate in them.

He and Gloria were "Season" ticket holders to USC and UCLA football games at the L.A. Coliseum for over 40 years, as well. He played "pick up" basketball with his buddies going back to their College days.

He and Gloria travelled extensively, all over the globe. He also was President of the Fraternity at Woodbury College, in Los Angeles, for several years.

He was a wonderful soul, a devoted husband to Gloria, for 62 years; a loving father to Cheryl Stormes, George Stormes Martino, Genita Garcia and Lynda Rech Franzen. He was an amazing grandfather to Kymberley Moulin, Chip Brown, Michael Stein, Matthew Markovich, Taran Stormes-Martino, Elizabeth Markovich, Madison Stormes-Martino. He was a dear and loving Great Grandfather to Brielle Fraser, Grace Fraser, Scarlet Fraser, Tigerlily Martino, Maxwell Markovich.

George left an unforgettable mark on every one he ever met, whether it was a long term relationship, or a brief one. He will be forever missed, and loved.