George Freeman

George A. Freeman, age 96 of Pompton Plains, died peacefully on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. He had lived in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, NJ for more than 60 years before moving to Cedar Crest Village in 2009.

George was raised in Nutley, NJ along with three brothers and in 1944 he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a tail gunner in the three person crew of a torpedo bomber. After serving in World War II, he went to college to earn his Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Davis and Elkins. While in college, George met Mary Parsons and they were married on November  25, 1950  in Maryland. After a reception at the Bethesda Woman’s Club, they honeymooned to Florida. They lived briefly in Colorado and Washington, DC before settling in Packanack Lake in 1960.

George and Mary quickly became very involved in the Packanack community playing softball, golfing, bowling, playing horseshoes, and playing cards. They were a very social couple and enjoyed cocktail parties with their neighbors. Together, they were incredible dancers and everyone would clear the floor to watch them dance. They loved to travel and most of all, loved each other throughout their 70 years of marriage.

George’s career as a Licensed Professional Engineer began with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, would later become a Vice President for Vogelbach and Baumann in 1973, started his own firm; G.A. Freeman & Associates Consulting Engineers, and he retired from Atmos Engineering in 1989. During his career he also served as President of the New Jersey Chapter of The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, ASHRAE. He was well known for incredible work ethic and rarely missed a day of work.

George was a true gentleman and always willing to help anyone in need. Sometimes he was even a little bit too eager to help, but his heart was in the right place. True to a Freeman trait, he was stubborn to a high degree, but complimented with a big heart. He kept a large place in his heart for his dogs; Toni, Belle, Snooky, and Sugar and would walk them every day in all weather. George was also a devoted grandfather and great grandfather and loved spending time with them and watching them grow. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren each know how blessed they are to have had such a loving example in their lives and they will all miss him dearly.

George is survived by his four children: Dan Freeman and his wife Almeda of Pompton Plains, NJ, Richard Freeman and his wife Linda of Newton, NJ, Brad Freeman and his wife Diane of Whitehouse Station, NJ, and Joyce Lorusso and her husband Phil of Pompton Lakes, NJ, eight grandchildren; Dawn McDonough, Danielle Wallin, Reese Freeman, Lyle Freeman, George Lorusso, Maddie Freeman, Nikki Freeman, and Sammy Freeman, and four great grandchildren; Brendan McDonough, Colleen McDonough, Maggie Wallin, and Ryan Wallin, and his brother, James Freeman of Reading, MA.  George was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary, in 2020, and by two brothers; Whitman and Robert Freeman.

In memory, please consider a donation to St Hubert’s Animal Welfare Shelter, sthuberts.org