George W. Riesz ’50 *52

Raised in New Jersey, he graduated from Bernardsville High School. At Princeton, he studied mechanical engineering and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He worked on the Princeton Engineer, played in the orchestra, and belonged to Cannon. He earned a master’s in electrical engineering in 1952.

George had a productive 35-year career with Bell Telephone Laboratories, which he described as “the finest research company in the world.” His work at Bell was interrupted by Army service from 1955 to 1957 as a missile project engineer at the Redstone Arsenal. From 1963 to 1965, he headed a Bell department in the Marshall Islands.  

Retiring in 1987, he and his wife, Maggie, moved from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., where they became volunteers with the Smithsonian. They traveled extensively in the Unites States and overseas, frequently with Elderhostel. George loved classical music and played the violin in community orchestras in New Jersey and Virginia. He strongly supported young people starting their musical careers.

Our sympathy goes to Maggie, his wife of 55 years; his son, Charlie; daughter Peggy; and granddaughter Megan.