George S. Denning Jr.

George was born on December 4, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up on the Southside of Chicago where he attended the Harvard School for Boys. He then attended Washington & Lee University, graduating in 1954 with a B.S. in Chemistry. It was during college that George met his future wife, Gina, and they were married June 24, 1955 at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Their marriage was an extremely happy partnership that lasted 68 years.

After they were wed, they moved to Ithaca, NY where George was enrolled in a doctoral program at Cornell University. A year later they celebrated the birth of their first child. George earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry and went on to do post doctoral work at Cornell Medical School in Manhattan. George and Gina moved to Norwich in 1962 when George began his career at Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals, later Proctor & Gamble. He retired from P&G in 1993 after 31 years of service.

George’s values led him to make volunteerism a focus of his entire life. The family joined Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Norwich, where he served in roles of vestry member, Senior Warden and Treasurer throughout the last 60 years. He served on the boards of Chenango Memorial Hospital and Norwich City Schools and was a long-time member of Rotary International.

George loved to travel, garden and was an avid golfer but his greatest passion was spending time with family, including annual family vacations in Maine for the last 56 years. He had a sharp wit, a generous heart, and a curious mind to the end. He valued honesty, integrity, kindness, and courage above all else.

He is survived by his wife Virginia (Gina), daughters Elizabeth (Betsy) Trescher (Michael) St. Joseph, MI; Sue Neill (Ken) Durham, NC; Page Flanagan (Robert) Greene, NY and sons George (Chip) Denning (Dale) Winsted, CT and Chris Denning (Christine Lotano) Hingham, MA along with 12 grandchildren (John, George, Katie, Sarah, Max, Sam, Lexi, Catharine, Alex, Molly, Eric, and Jude). He is also survived by his brother John M. Denning (Vicki) of Adrian, MI and many nieces and nephews.

George was predeceased by his parents George and Elizabeth Harpel Denning of Chicago, sister Nancy D. Phillips and her spouse John of Edina, Minnesota and brother-in-law A. Owens Jones Jr. of Williamsburg, Virginia.

A service celebrating George’s life will be held at 11:30 am on May 6, 2023 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in George’s memory be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 37 West Main St., Norwich, NY 13815.