George Stafford ’48 was born to George and Alice Stafford. In the 1920s, his parents established the family home on the Peninsula and became well known in the grocery business and real estate and timber industries. George’s time was always well spent. His love and commitment to the Catholic Church and parish life was developed as a graduate of Mt. Carmel Elementary, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and Santa Clara University. This was enriched by his lifelong friendship with Robert Graham, S.J., his teacher at Bellarmine and professor at SCU. With the start of WWII, George voluntarily entered the Army in 1942 during his sophomore year of college. He served with honor and distinction as a sharp shooter in the 104th Infantry Division, known as the Timberwolves. He received a Purple Heart while fighting in Belgium. This experience gave him a worldview and appreciation for life at every stage. After the war, George returned home to Redwood City. He met his wife, Margaret, at the tennis courts at Burton Park while he was attending Santa Clara and she was attending UC Berkeley. They married two years later, in 1947. The couple settled down in Redwood City and had six children. George provided for his family by maintaining what was given and working for the Schwabacher Family of San Francisco for over 30 years. He loved to work but always had his weekends free for family life. This dedication to family was unwavering. Known to all for his magnificent garden, George spent his life—from a young boy to age 93—nurturing his many redwoods, 63 in all. The late Herb Caen once quipped that there were still redwoods in Redwood City and that the Stafford home enjoyed quite a stand. George’s life was truly enriched by honor and respect, and through those ideals he was able to serve his country, his family, and God. He loved and was proud of his family, always encouraging and believing in them. He had a great sense of humor, was incredibly optimistic, a fierce patriot, and devoted to his wife, Margaret, whom he respected and adored. George examined his life and the lives of the Stafford’s before him in his memoirs. On Jan. 17, 2003, he wrote: “As I look back on the many people who formed our family, I realize that these people were courageous in seeking a better life for themselves and their families. It appears they achieved their goals and passed on to us a life enriched by honor, respect, and the love of God.” George peacefully passed away in his family home surrounded by loved ones on July 9, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret Wrigley Stafford, his sister, Nancy Daley, his children George, John, Jennifer, Katie, and Robert, and his grandchildren Carly, Simone, Gregory, Jessica, Joseph, Skylar, and Paul. These grandchildren represent the fifth generation on the Peninsula. His son, Tom, and sister, Elise, predeceased him. All will miss him.