Newspaper Obituary

FREDERICKSBURG - Virginia educator George James McIntosh passed away at his home in Fredericksburg, Va., on May 4, 2005, at the age of 90. He was born in Orange, N.J., on Sept. 17, 1914, to George McIntosh and Isabel Laing McIntosh. His entire career was devoted to public education in the state of Virginia. A graduate of Summit High School, Summit, N.J., Mr. McIntosh received his B.S. Degree from Randolph Macon College in Ashland and his M. Ed. from the University of Virginia. He was President of the Student Body at Randolph Macon, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and lettered in football, track and swimming. He served as a teacher and coach at Summit High School, Altavista High School and as Principal of Brookville High School in Lynchburg. 'Mr. Mac,' as he was known to students and teachers, was a major figure in the Newport News Public Schools from 1948 to 1975. He was principal of Newport News High School from 1948 to 1958. In 1958 he was named Assistant Superintendent of Schools and served as Superintendent of Schools from 1965 to 1975. McIntosh Elementary School in the Denbigh section of Newport News is named for him. Although retired, he took great pride in this outstanding school. It has received the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award, the Technology Education Elementary School Program of the Year Award and was named a 2005 Distinguished Title I School for Virginia. He was president of the Virginia Association of School Administrators and served on the State Board of Education committees on Teacher Certification and Accreditation of Elementary Schools. He taught graduate summer and evening classes on school administration and finance at The College of William and Mary. During World War II, Mr. McIntosh served in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines and Marcus Island. A skilled swimmer, he helped write the manual used by the Navy for training. He retired as Lt. Commander after 20 years of service in the Naval Reserve having served as Commanding Officer of the Surface Division 5-11, and Commanding Officer of Composite Co. 5-4. Mr. McIntosh was the widower of Harriett Ross Caulk of St. Michaels, Md., and Frances Mae Strohecker of Boydton, Va. His survivors include his sister, Isabel McIntosh Fowler (Mrs. George) of Chapel Hill, N.C.; his daughter, Betsy McIntosh Taylor and her husband, William Cleveland Taylor; a granddaughter, Catherine Taylor Marstellar (Mrs. Steven C.); two great-granddaughters, Mary Taylor Marstellar and Lauren McIntosh Marstellar; nieces and nephews. He was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 21 at the cemetery in Southern Shores, N.C. Memorials may be sent to McIntosh Elementary School, 185 Richneck Road, Newport News, VA 23608. Online condolences may be sent to www.foundandsons.com.

Published in the Daily Press on 5/8/2005.

McIntosh Elementary School Memorial Service

The "Service Celebrating the Life of George J. McIntosh, September 17, 1914 - May 4, 2005" was held at 3:00 pm. Sunday, June 5, 2005, at McIntosh Elementary School on Richneck Road in the Denbigh. The tribute was opened by Mary Ann Hutchinson, current Principal of Mcintosh Elementary School and Dr. Bill Williams ('57), first Principal of the school (retired). Hutchinson gave a description of the school's programs and its many successful student and faculty achievements. Williams reserved his remarks for later in the program. Rogerline Taylor, Executive Director of Elementary Education for Newport News Public Schools, gave greetings to the audience from the school system and spoke about Mr. Mac's guidance of the school system through the difficult years of desegregation and expansion. Newport News public schools were the first in Tidewater to desegregate and Mr. Mac was later to oversee the expansion of the school system by 14 schools. An invocation was given by Peggy Dail White ('59) Minister of Education at First Baptist Church. A unison reading of the "Lord's Prayer" from Psalm 23 of the Christian Bible followed. "Words of Remembrance by the Faculty" was given by Sandra Seaborn, Third Grade Math Lead Teacher and Earlyne Mullen, Technology Specialist. The McIntosh Elementary School Chorus presented the musical selection "Love Can Build A Bridge" and the Woodside High School Die Meistersingers sang an a cappella selection "A Celtic Blessing." Fifth-grader Kaliena Dimaano presented "Words of Remembrance by a Student." Dick Tyson, Director of Athletics and Driver Education, told how a $150 raise kept him from leaving Newport News to teach at a college and his experiences with Mr. Mac and school bus transportation during desegregation. Henry Godfrey, retired Assistant Superintendent of Schools, talked about his recruitment from Virginia State University and his failure to even know the location of Newport News. Dr. Bill Williams talked about his experiences with Mr. Mac as a volunteer in the high school office. Williams also presented an acrostic for "George J. McIntosh." Fifth-grader Yasmine Scott-Saez read the poem, "Mr. Mac." Betsy McIntosh Taylor, Mr. Mac's daughter, gave personal remembrances of her father in "Words of Remembrance by Family." The tribute closed with the "Benediction" by Dr. Bill Williams.

A reception was held after the ceremony. Before and after the formal program guests shared their personal experiences with Mr. Mac that ranged from the comic to the serious with many careers and life changing experiences recounted. The attendees numbered about two hundred.

Several members of the 1955 Reunion Planning Committee attended - Kiddy and Jimmy Starboard, Rodney Llewellyn, Jack Shepherd, Barbara Fowler, Jerry Hedgepeth, and Willard Weaver. After the ceremony Joe Drewery ('58) suggested the need for better interclass communications by developing a list of email contacts in other classes. This would help in the location of missing members and other communications as time goes on.

Write-up by Willard Weaver