It is with great sadness that we share the passing of George Pisk '49 who died on March 30th following complications from a stroke. He is preceded by his wife Rita, and survived by son Gerald, daughter Camille, son-in-law Daniel and two grandchildren, Hope and John.
During his time at Webb, George was an active member of both the Blue and Gold and El Espejo committees. He was also involved in drama, music, debate, football and baseball.
After graduating from Webb and later Yale University in 1953, George served in the army, spending part of his time in Germany as a military intelligence officer. After his discharge, he ventured to Texas, where his father, Dr. Paul Pisk, was a professor of musicology at the University of Texas. In 1958, George married one of his father's music students, Rita Rae Gurley, and together they had two beautiful children whom he always expressed were his greatest accomplishments in life. While finishing his doctoral dissertation on Renaissance English literature at U.T., he taught English and German. Thereafter, he taught English at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches before returning to Austin, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He taught at Southwest Texas (now Texas State) until his retirement in 1972.
In his spare time, George loved the hobby of duplicate bridge, a sport in which he eventually earned the coveted title of Platinum Life Master. While pursuing this lifelong passion, he traveled to many places for tournaments, including throughout the United States, much of Europe and to such countries as China, Egypt, Turkey and Iceland, just to name a few. George also enjoyed backgammon, chess, reading, watching TV and movies, cooking and playing his guitar.
George will be greatly missed by all who knew him.