Obituary of George Wilson

George Wilson of Wharton, NJ passed away on September 4th at the age of 90. Family and friends are invited to gather for a Memorial Celebration in his honor on Saturday, September 16th at 1:00pm at the Birchwood Manor (111 North Jefferson Road in Whippany), with a reception to follow at the same location. George was born in 1927 and spent his entire childhood and adolescence in Mountain Lakes, NJ, graduating from Mountain Lakes High School in 1945. After high school George served with distinction in both the United States Army and the US Marine Corps. Upon returning from the service, George attended Drew University in Madison for three years before earning a Bachelor's Degree from Tennessee Wesleyan and a Master's in Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. After an accomplished baseball career in both high school and college, George was drafted by the Milwaukee Braves organization and ultimately reached the highest levels of their Minor League system as a right-handed pitcher. At the conclusion of his professional baseball career, he began a lifelong journey as an educator by accepting a teaching and coaching position at Parsippany High School. In 1960, George returned to his high school alma mater as a Physical Education teacher and coach. It was at Mountain Lakes where he would become one of New Jersey's legends of coaching, winning state, county, and conference championships in both baseball and basketball. Known for teams that played with unbridled passion and disciplined precision, Coach Wilson helped establish an athletic tradition at Mountain Lakes High School the likes of which the small Morris County town had never seen. George retired from teaching in 1986, but returned to coach baseball as an assistant at Newark Academy (Livingston) from 1999 to 2006 where his teams continued to thrive. Aside from his 50+ years as a renowned coach and distinguished teacher, George's legacy in education is most accurately defined by the countless relationships he forged with his players and students. His impeccable and unwavering commitment to good character and ethical standards provided motivation and inspiration to all he encountered. George was predeceased by his parents Mary Romine and George P. Wilson; his sisters Hazel, Lois, and Ruth; his brothers Howard and Bob; his former wife Janice; and his grandchildren Cheryl Grace and Michael Wilson. Surviving are his loving wife Miriam; his son Bob and his wife Maureen; his son Cliff and his wife Elizabeth; his daughter Marylou Haraburd and her husband Doug; his daughter Janelyn Price and her husband Clay; his stepson David Pasquale and his wife Caren; and his stepdaughter Melissa O'Shaughnessy and her husband John. "Pop-Pop" is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Alexa, Brenna, Kyla, Ian, Justin, Keely, Cade, Daphne, Dillon, Sarah, and Colin (and his wife Tatum); six step-grandchildren: Griffen, Derek, Lilly, Daniela, Trevor, and Deagan; and two great-grandchildren: Isabelle and Abigail. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Coach Wilson Special Scholarship Fund" of the Marine Corps -- Law Enforcement Foundation (www.mc-lef.org). To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.codeymackeyfh.com.