George Oliva Jr. ’43

George died of pneumonia April 24, 2011 — Easter Sunday.

A native of Englewood, N.J., he prepared for Princeton at Phillips Academy.

At Princeton, he was on the track team, the business board of the Tiger, and WPRU. He was a member of the Glee Club, Triangle Club, Theatre Intime, and Elm Club. His major was politics.

After serving in World War II, George earned a law degree from Fordham University. He went on to work in advertising — first in television and radio as a writer, producer and copy director for McCann-Erickson. That job took him to Cleveland, Ohio, where he met Gertrude Perkins in 1950. They married and had six children and a 33-year marriage until her death in 1987.

He was president of General Pictures Corp., which produced commercials and industrial films from 1957 to 1967. George began acquiring radio stations in 1964 that he operated until his retirement in 1986.

George served on the boards of the Huntington Bank, Cleveland Art Museum, Cleveland Playhouse, Connecticut College, Hawken School, and Foxcroft School. His passions were traveling, theater, and his quail plantation in Thomasville, Ga.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela; his six children, including George III ’77; and 17 grandchildren.