In Memory of

George

H.

Franz

Obituary for George H. Franz

George Franz was born in New York City, New York on September 15th, 1946. An amusing tidbit he often loved to share (and he had a treasure trove) is that he was born at the French Hospital, just a few blocks from his long-time residence in Manhattan.

George was always fascinated with nature and the science of how things worked. He often spoke of how much he enjoyed the summer camping trips his family made every year on the beaches of Montauk, N.Y. where his love of nature and music could be fully explored.

After serving in the Peace Corps, George pursued his love of science and started working with the New York City Department of Education as a science teacher. George‘s fascination with the way things worked led him to the field of technology, which was newly introduced to the schools of New York City in the early 1990’s. George became a pioneer in the field of Computer Instruction when personal computers were just starting to be used by the public. He soon became the Coordinator of Technology for District 3 in Manhattan training teachers and convincing them to embrace the use of these scary new machines in their classrooms. He was very successful and George eventually retired as the Director of Technology and Computer Instruction for the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

George was a man of many interests and talents. Apart from computers, George loved music and played the guitar. When he was in the Peace Corps in Barbados, he learned to be a car mechanic; again, fascinated with the way things worked.

Most of all, George loved people and people loved George. George was smart, curious and quirky and so much fun to be around. He used to bicycle his way all over Manhattan to the needless worry of his family and friends because he always made it home safely and in one piece.

When he retired, he purchased a seasonal cottage in Westchester, N.Y. Although he lived in the city with his husband, Theo Carmelo, they both loved to go to their Westchester cottage to relax and enjoy nature. One of George’s greatest joys was to sit on his porch and watch the many different types of birds come to his lawn and use his bird feeders. Many of his friends and neighbors will always remember him happily sitting there enjoying the birds.

Sadly, the past couple of years George had health challenges which curtailed his activities and movement.

George died in his sleep from cardiac arrest on December 25th, 2022. He is survived by his loving husband, two children, a sister, a granddaughter and the family of friends he made on his life’s journey.

George, we pray you are at peace and surrounded by many beautiful birds.