George A. Ives Jr. ’53

George was born in New Bern, N.C., and died there Oct. 4, 2022.

He attended the New Bern public schools until his junior year of high school, when he transferred to Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. After graduating from Woodberry, George came to Princeton, where he majored in English and wrote his thesis on “The Role of Frank Norris in Early American Nationalism.” He joined Colonial Club and Naval ROTC, sang in the Varsity Glee Club, and was on the staff of the Tiger. After graduation, George served two years in the Navy, stationed in London as a communications officer. It was there that he met and married his wife, Gisela von zur Muehlen.

After completing his commission in the Navy, George joined the U.S. Foreign Service and was posted to Asunción, Paraguay. Returning to Washington, he served in various capacities in the State Department but ultimately returned to New Bern to join the family business. He served the community in a variety of roles: as chairman of the Tryon Palace Commission, co-chair of the 1974 New Bern Bicentennial Celebration, a member of the Chatham Hall Board of Trustees, and trustee of the N.C. Symphony. He and Gisela also edited and published his mother-in-law’s memoir titled In God’s Hands: A Noblewoman’s Struggle for Survival in War and Revolution.

George was predeceased by Gisela and is survived by his three daughters: Caroline Howard Pearce, Tanya Ives Jorgensen, and Dorothy Gregory Ives; son George Allen Ives III; and four grandchildren.