George Edward Morgan '45
George Morgan died in Lake Oswego, Ore., on Aug. 19, 2008, from complications of lymphoma and Alzheimer’s disease. He grew up in Wakefield, Mass., and graduated from Wakefield High School. He attended Amherst and Dartmouth, graduating from the latter in 1946 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
Upon receiving a master’s degree from Stanford, George began a career in local government with the City of San Francisco and as an intern with the City of Palo Alto. There he began a 21-year relationship, progressing from administrative assistant to city manager. In 1971 George left Palo Alto to become the first city manager of Beverly Hills, spending seven years in that capacity.
George’s passions were gardening and community service, with his greatest focus being on family. In 1947 he married Louise Dickson. She died in 2006, a few months before their 60th anniversary. George and Louise had three daughters, Beth Knudsen, Martha Morgan and Nancy Jensen, and four grandchildren.
George Morgan will be remembered as an east coast gentleman. People spoke of his courtesy and charm. His standards were high, and he produced many innovative projects for the cities for which he worked. One of his colleagues remembers George as his teacher, mentor and friend. “Well, Mr. Sipel,” George would ask. “How have you changed the world this week?”
The Class extends its condolences to George’s family.
—Daniel Leavitt ’45