My mom and I were sitting in the living room, waiting for this guy from this summer camp that I had no knowledge of but for 20 or so words listing in the ACA catalogue. Words such a swimming, baseball, basketball, soccer, camping, canoeing caught my eye. Soon, the car pulled into the driveway, and my anxiety level soared. You see, I was 9 and this guy was here to sell me and my mom on the grand idea of having me go to a sleep-away camp, in a rustic cabin, without flushing toilets, in a far away land…to play tennis so the conversation went. Me, play tennis…right. Well, I don’t recall if it was the technicolor slide show or Mr. George’s love for Susquehannock, but he won me over….and, during the first few years, I even tried tennis. Mr. George continued to share his love of Susquehannock, his wisdom, his optimism and a few tennis pointers during my many years at Susquehannock, not only to me but to every camper and staff who would listen. I haven’t forgot his famous Award-Reward speech, and often find myself quoting it to my children….and his S-U-S-Q-U-E-H-A-N-N-O-C-K cheers will often be emulated but never duplicated. His optimism was most addictive, though I thought someone may have spiked his bug juice when he thought our work week crew could make a clay tennis court at S4G with garden hoes. Clearly, we had some of the bug juice too, because we tried, inspired by Mr. George’s vision and constant encouragement. I fondly remember a very enjoyable dinner with Mr. Ed and Mr. George at the Montrose Country Club. When I became the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Camp Susquehannock Inc., I accepted their generous invitation to dinner to discuss Susquehannock’s future. We, however, ended up spending much of the conversation discussing Susquehannock’s history. Oh, the stories they could tell. It was a honour to share the table with these two…Mr. George was the yang to Mr. Ed’s ying; he was Oscar to Mr. Ed’s Felix; he was the Orange to Mr. Ed’s Blue. Little did I realize before this meal that they were so different, yet so connected and interwined by their love for Susquehannock; their genuine concern for the health, well-being, development, and success of each camper who wore the Orange and Blue; and their hopes for Susquehannock’s future. The lesson of this dinner, of course, was that what made Susquehannock great, is what would keep it great: community, integrity, diversity, mutual respect, loyalty, and compassion. This, they agreed upon. My thoughts are with Dede and the rest of Mr. George’s family, and the Susquehannock community who lost a champion, an advocate, a leader, a visionary, and an beacon of encouragement. Without him, my Susquehannock experience may have never been; because of him and Mr. Ed, my Susquehannock experience will always be. I’m now going to give three SUSQUEHANNOCK cheers to the both of them. Please join me.