George L. French

Mr. George L. French, 81, a resident of Crescent Boulevard passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday evening, January 26, 2020. The only child of Henry L. and Claire (Gehrig) French, he was born in Mineola, New York, on July 31, 1938. George was a graduate of Manasquan High School and Rutgers University, and he completed his graduate degree in Spanish at Middlebury College. He enjoyed a long career as a high school Spanish teacher, the majority of which was spent in Chatham (NJ). George retired from teaching in 2000. Having raised their family in the town of Bridgewater, NJ,the couple later spent ten happy years in an over-fifty-five community in Burlington Country before leaving New Jersey to live near their daughter Jennifer and her family in Bennington. Fluent in Spanish, George traveled extensively in Latin America and Europe, as well as throughout the U.S. He grew up near the Jersey Shore and had a lifelong love of the ocean and its beaches. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed the many winning seasons of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He was also a passionate supporter of Rutgers University basketball. Growing up, George played baseball and basketball; in later years he played softball, golfed and bowled regularly. With his green thumb, George maintained gardens around his home and took great pride in the vegetables that he produced and shared with family and friends. George was a lifelong history buff, read extensively and frequently had several books going at once. He was a member of the Second Congregational Church, the Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbus, NJ,and the Bennington Rotary Club. George will be remembered for his love and dedication to family. George is survived by his wife Barbara (Kinney) French, whom he married in Blairstown, NJ, on November 17, 1962. He will be dearly missed also by son George Thomas French of Manville, NJ,and Tom’s significant other, Francine Gargano;by son Larry French and wife Kimberly D. French of Woodstock, IL; andby daughter Jennifer French and husband Paul Fischer of Bennington; by grandchildren Sarah E. French, Nathan C. French and Richard Henry Fischer; and also by his faithful cat, Nigel. A service to celebrate George’s life will be held at the Second Congregational Church on Saturday February 1 at 11am, a memorial reception will follow in Webster Hall. Memorial gifts may be made to the Southern Vermont Medical Center Cancer Crusaders or the Second Congregational Church in care of the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201. To send personal condolences visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.