George P. Reidy

10 of old age at Connecticut Hospice. He was 96, and he lived in

Madison for most of the last 40 years.

A US Army veteran who rose to the rank of master sergeant, George

served in the World War II campaigns of North Africa and Italy. That

experience rendered him virtually immune to complaint. Whenever he was

asked how he was doing, he invariably replied, "Never better!" He

could be at a party. Or he could be in the hospital. It didn't matter.

The answer was always the same: "Never better!"

But if George did not believe in airing out his complaints, he refused

to keep bad jokes to himself. He delighted in delivering a punch line

and causing people to laugh.

George was born to Irish immigrants in New York City, the youngest of

nine children. His birth date was Feb. 22,and he was christened George

Washington Reidy, perhaps because his parents were so proud to be new

Americans --- or perhaps because they had simply run out of Irish

names. Fittingly, George Washington Reidy grew up in the Washington

Heights neighborhood of the city, and George Washington Reidy was the

name on his diploma from De La Salle High School.

In adulthood, however, George Washington Reidy preferred to go by

George Patrick Reidy, Patrick being both his confirmation name and the

name of his father.

As a young man, George aspired to be a doctor, but World War II

intervened just as he was about to start medical school. The Army made

good use of the science and math skills he had learned at Manhattan

College. By the time the war ended, he was proficient in the use of

the primitive computers that tracked logistics and military supply

chains.

That experience served George well during his professional career,

which include stints at Safeway supermarket chain and two

wine-and-spirits distributorships --- a company then known as Star

Liquor Dealers of Long Island City, N.Y., and Hartley and Parker Ltd.

of Stratford.

In 1947, George was truly "Never better" than when he married the love

of his life, Claire (Krepley) Reidy. He loved Claire even more than he

loved the New York Yankees, which is saying a great deal.

A favorite childhood memory: Visiting the Yankee Stadium locker room

to meet Babe Ruth, who happened to be in the buff. "Hiya, kid," the

birthday-suited slugger supposedly said.

George is survived by his wife, Claire, of Madison and his four

children --- Christopher of Somerville, Mass.; Susan Reidy Ham of

Delavan, Wis.; David and his wife, Eileen, of Spring Lake Heights,

N.J., and Mark of Madison.

George also leaves two grandchildren --- Christine Reidy of Daytona

Beach, Fla., and J.D. LaCarrubba of Belmar, N.J.

George was predeceased by his brothers and sisters and by his

daughter-in-law Martha Wigglesworth, wife of Christopher.

George took great pleasure in his extended family, and he was

especially fond of two nephews, Gerald and Richard Reidy, who allowed

him to revel in the role of patriarch.

George was also a favorite uncle of the Spina family.

A wake will be held at the Swan Funeral Home in Madison. The viewing

is from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. at St. Margaret's Church in

Madison on Saturday Dec. 14.

The family would like to thank Connecticut Hospice, the Hearth, and

the Gables for the kind help they gave to George