Obituary of George G. Baxter III
George Gordon Baxter III, aged 79, died June 17, 2022 from natural causes. A lifelong devout Catholic, George was the beloved husband of Mary Pat for over 55 years, beloved father of six children and grandfather of seventeen grandchildren: Jane (Mark) Bayne and Colin, Emmet and Matthew; Matthew (d 2020); Andrew (Joi) Baxter and Keira and Derek; George (Nicky) Baxter and George, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Margaret; Michael (Nancy) Baxter and Lillian, James and Elena; Dan (Erin) Baxter and Graham, Liam, Everett, Hayes and Charlie.
George Baxter was a man of integrity, intelligence, humor, and deep faith. He had strong opinions that he expressed eloquently. He was hilarious and challenging. He could be formidable but was tenderhearted. People sought his advice about many different things as he was always thoughtful, practical, and strategic. He used his many gifts to help others when he saw a need, usually quietly, often anonymously. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Born in 1942, the oldest of four children, George grew up in Long Island, attending Chaminade HS in Mineola, NY. He earned several scholarships, including a full NROTC scholarship which he used to attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He graduated from Holy Cross in 1964, with a BS degree in Physics and was commissioned as Ensign, USN.
During his time in the Navy, he served in the Vietnam War. He was sent to Cam Ranh Bay to serve as Communications Officer of CTF 115 (operation Market Time), the “Swift Boat” effort shielding the entire coastline of the country. He left active duty in 1969 and continued in the Navy Reserve until 1972, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Having married Mary Pat in 1966, George worked tirelessly to provide for his young and growing family. He attended UCONN law school at night while working full time; and received his JD, with Honors, in 1974. This was the beginning of his law career, mostly in banking and financial services. In 1986 he joined Citibank, and became, over time, Group General Counsel for the Card Products Group, then Group General Counsel for the International Consumer Group, then Group Counsel for the Global Private Bank, and finally Group General Counsel for Citibank Global Asset Management Group and Managing Director for Solomon Smith Barney. He was in his office on the 45th floor of Building 7 World Trade Center on 9/11. He retired from Citi in 2003.
After retiring, he worked for Catholic Charities of the Paterson, NJ diocese and later became the Math teacher for a small, traditional Catholic high school in Pequannock, NJ. For nine years he taught all the math courses for all the grades at the school – Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Advanced Math, and Calculus, as well as a basic Economics course.
He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Chapel for many years and became a Third Order Carmelite in 2014, serving as the Prior for the community for the final few years of his life.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 21, from 4-8 pm at Codey & Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Avenue in Boonton, NJ. A Requiem Mass will be at 10:30 am, Wednesday June 22, at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, 32 W. Franklin Ave., Pequannock, NJ.