I am going to step away from posting about training and racing and instead talk about someone who was instrumental in who I am today.
I woke yesterday morning with a text and voicemail from my friend Missy that I needed to call her immediately. When I reached her it was the worst news possible. Her father George had died unexpectedly that morning.
I’ve known George and Missy for 33 years. They are family to me and many of my friends. When I was still in high school and stormed out of my parent’s house in a fit of misguided punk rock rage I went to George’s and asked if I could stay there. He opened his home to me and I stayed there for nearly 2 years. Missy is a year younger than I am and we used to fight like siblings. We’ve grown up since then and now love each other like siblings. She told me I was the first person she thought of to call when she knew that George was gone.
I wasn’t the only stray that George opened his home to. There was Scott. And then there were all the English guys. The first was Tony, then Greg, then Paul and Bitters. All of us living a part of our young lives under George’s roof and all of us becoming lifelong friends.
George was a legend in Toledo. He ran competitively in college, was an alternate to the U.S. National XC Ski team and was club cycling champion in the 70s. George was the fittest mother fucker we knew and all of us hoped that when we “got as old as George” we’d be that fit too.
Then there are the George stories. Like the time he broke his ankle just before ski season so he epoxied a ski binding to his cast so he could marathon skate once the snow flew.
I met George thru cycling but it’s skiing that really makes me think of him. George helped teach me how to ski and I still have vivid memories of skiing with George. The last 50km race I skied in was with George.
George was the standard. Fit enough in his 60’s to join me on some long rides whenever I was back in town he still trained every day. His death yesterday has been a shock to us all.
I only hope that where George is now the corduroy groomed trails are fresh and the wax is spot on and ULLR is looking after him.
Farewell my friend. I miss you already.
