George T. Downey ’60 died on February 19, 2020, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
(The following was provided by Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society on February 19, 2020:)
George T. Downey ’60
George Thomas Downey, 82, Professor Emeritus of Worcester State University passed away on February 19, 2020, after a long illness. He was born November 22, 1937, to Francis and Agnes Downey, of Worcester, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of St. John’s High School and Worcester State College, served in the US Navy, and went on to earn both master’s and doctorate degrees from Clark University.
He was a multi-year New England Champion swimmer and was instrumental in the development of the St. John’s High School first swim team. He was inducted into the St John’s High School Hall of Fame for his swimming achievements.
Other interests included golf, tennis, and racquetball. He earned his fixed wing pilots license in the late 1980s while simultaneously learning to fly helicopters. He was an avid boater and scuba diver, completing many trips on the intercostal waterway from Maine to Florida and back.
He taught at The Ohio State University, retiring from Worcester State University in 1986. He served as chairman of the North Brookfield (MA) School Committee for several years.
He went on to develop and manage Misty Harbor Resort, Sea Mist Resort, Harbor House Restaurant, and Fiddlestix Pub in Wells, Maine. He also collaborated in the development of Misty Harbor Resort at Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. He established the resort management company Misty Harbor, Inc. in 1986. Upon retirement from resort management he served on the board of directors of both resorts.
He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-nine years, Sandra Gauthier Downey, his four daughters, Debora Downey, Worcester, MA, Donna Batchelor, Winstead, CT, Derreth Downey, Wells, ME, and Stacy Lane, Fort Myers, FL, as well as six grand-children, Shauni and Ryan Batchelor, Ian Lane, and Tyler, Hailey and Camden Morrison, and two great grand-children Emma and Grant Warren (Batchelor).