George E Savaria Jr.

George E. Savaria Jr., 84, passed away January 14, 2011 at Community Hospice of North Florida. He was born August 21, 1926 in New Bedford, MA and was predeceased by his parents, George and Eva (Sicard) Savaria. He graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy. He served as a Quartermaster in the Navy during World War II. He earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

George accepted a position with the Allied Chemical Company in New York where he eventually became the Director of Personnel. One of his greatest personnel achievements was meeting Grace Redyke an occupational nurse for Allied. George and Grace were married on November 21, 1953. After 20 years with Allied, George accepted a position in Tampa, FL as the Director of Personnel for Jim Walter Corporation.

In his retirement years George was active in the Knights of Columbus, rising to the rank of 4th Degree Knight. An Eagle Scout himself, he was involved in scouting for a number of years. He served as a Troopmaster in Ridgewood NJ and was a charter member of the Order of the Arrow. Most recently, he was an Eagle Scout advisor for Boy Scouts in the Jacksonville area. He and Grace were active in their congregations throughout their marriage, most recently in St. Margaret Catholic Church in Maggie Valley, NC and San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church in St Johns, FL. They also were active members of the Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary in NC.

George is survived by his wife, Grace Savaria; sister, Claire (Dick) DeRocker of Hayesville NC; sons, George Savaria III of Bostwick FL, Arthur (Marsha) Savaria of St Johns FL, and daughter, Jeanne (Mike) Kuperberg of Bethesda MD; granddaughters: Shannon, Jessica, Jordan and Ansley; a great grandson: William; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be Celebrated at 10:30 AM on January 19, 2011 in San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church, 1718 State Road 13 N, St. Johns, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations be made to Boy Scout Troop 278 and sent to San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church.