George Joseph McLaughlin, Jr.

George Joseph McLaughlin Jr. died April 4, 2024.  Until the very end he retained his "attitude of gratitude" for his long life, his wonderful family,his lovely wife, and the care he received at the ElCastillo Health Center.

George was born in Chicago on February 1, 1928, the eldest son  of George Sr. and Josephine Pellage McLaughlin. The family moved to suburban Park Ridge when George was eight.  He graduated from Maine  Township High School in 1945 and went on to Northwestern Uniersity School of Speech, graduating in 1949 with a BA in public speaking and economics. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, the debate team and participated in intramural athletics.  In 1952 George received his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern Law School.  He was elected to the board of the Northwestern University Law Review and served as its book review editor in 1951-52.  Following law school George served in the US  Air Force Judge Advocate General's Division for 3 years as trial and defense counsel in court martial cases.  He then joined the Chicago law firm of Crowell and Liebman, becoming a partner in 1962.  He left in 1970 to become general counsel of the Industrial Group of US Industries, Inc.  Upon takeover by Hansen Industries in1984 George served as inside counsel for two years and then left the practice of law to become an investment adviser  –  first on a full time basis and then on a part time basis until fully retiring at age 84 in 2013.

George married Sandra Goodchild in 1957 and they had three children: Daniel, David and Susan, before divorcing in 1969.  In1970 he married Patricia Lanphier with whom he had a daughter, Meghan.  Patricia died in 1997 and George married Tiia Kari in 1998.He is survived by Tiia, all of his children and six grandchildren.

During 24 year residency in Deerfield, Illinois, George was active in the community – serving as a member and in leadership positions with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Manpower Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. When transferred to Weston, CT. with U.S. Industries in 1984 he joined the Emergency Medical Service and served as an EMT until 1998 when George and Tiia moved to Santa Fe, NM.  They lived in the Alma Compound where George was an officer of the homeowners association for most of their 19 years there.  He continued being active in community affairs in Santa Fe, including serving on the board of the Council of International Affairs for four years, chairing the very successful dinner and luncheon discussion program.

George was a consistent blood donor in his younger years and frequently served as clerk or judge of elections over his adult years.

Throughout his life George loved the outdoors and athletic activities.  He was an avid   softball and tennis player, a racing yachtsman, skier and hiker. He exercised regularly at Carl and Sandra's gym and at the El Castillo fitness center after he and Tiia moved there in 2017. At Carl and Sandra's, at age 81 he took up Olympic style weightlifting, setting New Mexico state records in his weight and age class  for both snatch and clean jerk, and in 2011 won bronze in those events at the National Masters meet in Savannah, Georgia. Contract bridge became a keen interest after giving up weight lifting.

Most of all, George was devoted to his family, and relished his role as husband, father, stepfather and grandfather.  He was grateful to be an American and maintained a keen interest in politics and the political process.

George is deeply missed by wife Tiia,  his children and grandchildren, Tiia's sons and their families,  his many friends and relatives in Chicagoland, Santa Fe and elsewhere.