MARBLEHEAD - George K. Osgood Jr., age 80, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Monday, December 18, 2023, after a courageous nine year battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Marie (Walsh) Osgood.
Son of the late George K. and Margaret Louise (Cann) Osgood, George was a lifelong resident of Marblehead, MA, graduating from Marblehead High School, class of 1961. During high school summers, George worked in the East Boston shipyards for the Bromfield Corporation. In the winters he worked for the Phillips & Lee Gulf Station on Atlantic Avenue in Marblehead. George excelled on the football team, working his way into the starting line up as a sophomore playing tackle and continuing as a two-way starter tackle. The team his senior year is generally regarded as one of the town's finest, scoring 276 points, and winning the Northeast Conference.
Continuing his football career at Cushing Academy, class of 1962, he was recognized as an All New England Prep School Tackle, and went on to play at UMass Amherst.
George's achievements include a long career of steel work starting in 1965 as a field engineer at U.S. Testing where his projects included the 10-acre Gillette building in Boston, the Western Electric building in North Andover, MA, the Pentucket Bridge in Lowell, and the MBTA bridge in Savin Hill. He moved on to Stone and Webster in 1967 as a senior field engineer where he supervised steel erectors for the main turbine building at the Surrey Nuclear Power Plant.
In 1969 George joined Skilling, Helle, Christensen & Robertson as a senior field engineer supervising steel erection of floors 46 through 100 of Tower A of the World Trader Center in New York City. This work included jumping of tower cranes, field repairs, and coordination with the New York Port Authority.
At the conclusion of that project in 1974, George turned down a job at the Sears Building in Chicago to start his own company, Marblehead Steel Erection & Supply. He ran this business for over 25 years, working on shopping centers, schools, commercial offices, and warehouses including the Coast Guard Station in Gloucester, MA, Bentley College, and the White Mountain Mall in North Conway, NH.
In addition to steel work George had a long career in real estate, starting in 1967 with multi- and single-family homes. He developed the commercial and residential property on Derby Street in Salem, MA (previously BeerWorks, originally the Ford car dealership). He built three of his own homes (two on Naugus Head in Marblehead and one in Glen, NH) in addition to many other projects.
He was also a founding partner of Aquafax, a ship cleaning business, in 1985, with offices in San Pedro, CA, and on Pier 1 in Boston, MA.
George was at ease with and loved machines of all kinds. From dirt bikes, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, to welding and construction equipment, all added excitement to his work and personal life. George had a vast skill set, a practical mindset and was quick to action.
Always great in emergencies, on the morning of 9/11 he drove down to the World Trade Center in New York. Using his knowledge of the building he helped his old company, Skilling, Helle, Christensen & Robertson and the New York Port Authority with recovery efforts, working at the site himself for weeks.
George enjoyed his family immensely, teaching his four children and Georgina how to ski, snowmobile, and dirt bike in Glen, NH and to boat in Marblehead. No matter the location or distance, he loved attending sporting events for all of his children and grandchildren. With family and friends, he would often call or drop in to catch up, eager to hear of their lives, and share updates of his family.
George loved to travel, ready to go on a moments notice, seeing much of the world with his wife Marie. He particularly enjoyed Europe (especially England, Scotland, and Italy) but also ventured further afield to Morocco and southeast Asia. Any destination was possible. Back home, he loved alternating ski trips to NH with hopping on a plane to Florida. George embraced adventure while also being solidly rooted in his Marblehead home. He had many lifelong relationships in the community, connecting with an incredible memory for and sincere interest in the details of people's lives. He was quick to help where he could, from plowing friends out, to helping a stranger on the side of the road, to rescuing a neighbor's truck from the rising tide with his crane. Undaunted by challenges, he was often the first call for many.
George continued his passion for steel work, working part time for Decareau Steel until the age of 76. He also skied until age 74.
George was predeceased by his eldest son, George Kenneth Osgood III, and his sister Joan Osgood Lawrence. He leaves his wife of 26 years, Marie, his sister Gail Clark, his daughter-in-law Barbara Schnitger Osgood (children Marlena and Colleen), sons Nicholas (wife Caralee, children Ava, Anna, and David) and Patrick (wife Jodi, children Patrick Jr. and Harrison), daughter Vanessa Kersker (husband Michael, son Michael), stepdaughters Michelle Franciose (husband Paul Schimmel, children John and Alexander) and Stephanie Hadden (husband Bruce, children Jaqueline and Caroline), nieces and nephews, and many friends and associates. He also leaves his former wife and mother of their four children Georgina T. Smith (husband James).
George inspired us with his entrepreneurship, perseverance, and, most of all, his love for family, friends, and adventure. He will be dearly missed.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, December 30th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell, 142 Elm Street in Marblehead, followed by a reception from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the VFW Post, 321 West Shore Drive in Marblehead. All are welcome.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.
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