George Robert McMullen, Jr. died peacefully Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at his home in Grosse Pointe Woods, he was 63 years old. Despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February of 2020, he continued to live his life with characteristic grace, gratitude, courage, joy and humor.
George grew up in Grosse Pointe, attended Grosse Pointe South High School then Regis University in Denver, CO, graduating in 1979. George had a lifelong career in sales, the majority of which was with Avis Car Rental. After living briefly in the Boston and Washington D.C. areas he returned to Grosse Pointe where he developed a passion for the local community that became his life’s work. One of his greatest joys was serving as a Councilman for Grosse Pointe Woods. He was a familiar face at Council meetings in all five of the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods and he attended almost all the Grosse Pointe Public School System Board meetings. He was a very proud member of the Grosse Pointe Rotary Club. He served on the boards of the Grosse Pointe Library Foundation, the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce, Grosse Pointe Woods Board of Review, he was an Ambassador for the Family Center and was so pleased to be an usher at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church. He was actively involved with Grosse Pointe Theater, the League of Women Voters, The Helm, the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education and the Grosse Pointe Historical Society among others. He reached across every aisle he encountered and was a member of the East Side Republicans, the Grosse Pointe Democratic Club and the Grosse Pointes & Harper Woods NAACP. The nonprofits with which he was involved are too numerous to mention. An acquaintance said of George’s community involvement “everywhere I looked in our community, there was George”.
George’s commitment to community continued when at his family cottage in Pointe aux Barques, MI (PAB). He was a past Board member and ran the Gymkhana and annual softball game for more than 15 years. PAB was a part of him and when he was there, he never missed heading out to view the sunset.
Along with his love of Grosse Pointe and PAB he was devoted to his family and friends. He was interested in everyone and had friends of all ages to whom he was fiercely loyal. He was a true gentleman that always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say.
He is survived by his mother, Judy McMullen, sister Alex McCann and brother-in-law, Franklin McCann. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Grosse Pointe Rotary Foundation – P.O. Box 36366 – Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230, Full Circle Foundation – 17006 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230 or Grosse Pointe Theater – 315 Fisher Road – Grosse Pointe, MI 48230.
A memorial service celebrating George’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 25th at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18