George Harvey Luby

July 27, 1924 – September 7, 2017

Denver, Colorado

Always a Newspaper Man

George H. Luby, a bighearted newspaper man, died on September 7, 2017, when his heart wore out after 93 years.

George loved words, writing his own stories, editing the reports of others, crossword puzzles, word games and especially puns. George reported for and edited his high school newspaper, the Antelope Valley (California) Joint Union High School Sandpaper, the University of Denver's Clarion, the Pueblo Chieftain, and newsletters for his veteran Marine Corps company L-3-6, and his assisted living facility. He loathed misspelled words, grammatical errors and hominy grits. Many a reporter–and his daughter—remember seeing their writing eviscerated, bleeding red ink from his proofreaders' marks. All admit the resulting story was the better for it.

George had just finished his freshmen year at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1943 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. During his three-and-a-half-year stint during WWII, he spent time on the Pacific Ocean islands of Oahu, Maui, Okinawa, Tinian, Saipan and Kyushu. He served in the occupation forces in Japan soon after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, but Luby seldom spoke of his war experiences. After retirement, a group of his former Marines reconnected and held periodic reunions across the United. States. At George's urging, many wrote their memoirs, which he edited. The collection was published in 2004 as Island Hopping With L-3-6. George wrote, in the Foreword, "This collection of memories of L-3-6'ers who fought in WWII originated as a way to let families know what they experienced following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Since then, this book for many of the authors has served as a catharsis for softening nightmares of wartime horror."

George joined the Pueblo Star-Journal and Chieftain in 1949, soon after his graduation from the University of Denver. He retired from the Pueblo newspaper after almost 40 years of covering every beat and serving as editor at most desks in the Chieftain newsroom. Born in Van Nuys, California, and living in Colorado for over 60 years, George was that rare creature, a California and Colorado (essentially) native. His most cherished outdoor memory was the bicycle trip he made with his brother, Robert (Bob) Luby from California to Colorado after the War. Both George and Bob reminded family that their bicycles did not have gears. George's Colorado touchstone was Trappers Lake. He was a long-time booster of all things Pueblo and read the Pueblo newspaper until his death. After retirement, he did not hesitate to correspond (privately) with the editor(s) giving criticism, compliments and story ideas.

A sports reporter at heart, his love of sports was second only to his love for his wife and family. George was a proud charter subscriber to Sports Illustrated, from its first issue in August 1954, he looked forward to the arrival of each magazine thereafter, and would call the subscription department if an issue was late, or missed. On October 2, 1954, he married Rosemary Mauro in Vineland, Colorado. Also on that day, the New York Giants played (and swept in 4 games) the Cleveland Indians. George arranged for a television set (rare even some homes at that time) at the reception hall so he would not miss any play of the historic game. Rosemary, ever tolerant of his sports obsession, and George were married almost 60 years when she died in 2014.

George's two children are Patricia (Ron Vick) Luby, Denver and David Luby, Pueblo. George was proud of the academic and professional success of his children. He was ecstatic when his grandson, Kevin Vick was a finalist in the 2011 Colorado State Spelling Bee and overjoyed upon the national publication of a short story written by his granddaughter, Christina Vick.

Family thanks the residents and staff of Porter Place Assisted Living in Denver for their attention and affection since moving to Denver in 2010, and the management and caregivers at Serenity House Assisted Living in Denver for the past five months of loving care.`

Viewing will be 6:30 p.m., Friday evening, September 15, 2017, followed by a Funeral Service at 7 p.m., both to be held at T.G. McCarthy Funeral Home, 329 Goodnight Avenue. Interment will follow at 11 a.m., Saturday, at Roselawn Cemetery. Online condolences at www.tgmccarthy.com.