Obituary of Dr. George V. Downing

George died May 30, 2011, after a brief illness. George, as he was known by all, was born into a Quaker family, attended Westtown Friends School and Haverford College. In World War II, he was a conscientious objector and served in the Sierra Nevada fighting forest fires and did research on malaria at Goldwater Hospital NYC. George was a founding member of the Chatham Summit Friends Meeting. George then received his PhD at Cornell and began a 36-year career at Merck helping to develop many drugs and vaccines. He retired in 1988 as Director of Analytical Chemistry. After briefly residing in Summit, NJ, George settled his family with five children to Warren, NJ in 1959. George served on the Warren Township Board of Education from 1968 to 1973. George coached baseball and basketball for many years (some would say because his children were uncoachable). In 1981 George married Lynne, and enjoyed serving as her research assistant as she completed her PhD in clinical social work. He felt that his family was his greatest achievement. He enjoyed travel, the ballet and theater, cooking and life in general. He is survived by his wife, Lynne, of Warren, NJ, sons Peter of Orcas Island, WA, Eric and wife Nancy of Chapel Hill, NC, Scott and wife Rhonda of Cardiff, CA, Christopher and wife Kristina of Peapack, NJ, daughter Sandra and partner Betsy of Seattle, WA, two stepdaughters Jennifer Cohen and husband Ken of Ridgewood, NJ, and Susan Young of Arlington, VA, former wife Christine Downing and partner River of Orcas Island, WA, brother Hugh and wife Mabel of Cranberry Twp, PA, family friend Pamela Minetto, and eleven grandchildren: Amanda, Ashley, Katie, Andy, Jes, Kyle, Alec, Derek, Allie, Sara, and Wiley. A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday June 2, 2011 at Higgins Home for Funerals at 752 Mountain Blvd Watchung, NJ 07069. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: The American Friends Service Committee, c/o AFC Development, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102