Remembering George Toby

The Angeles Chapter lost an enthusiastic mountaineer with George Toby's passing on August 2, 2010. George was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1921. George, his wife Evie, and young son, Tom, eventually moved to Southern California. Early on, Tom, George's son, convinced George to join the Sierra Club and take up hiking. Tom was George's sponsor in getting him into easy hiking and ultimately serious climbing. An accomplished climber and E rated leader, George received an Outings Award in 1981. He led for the SPS and DPS, finishing the peaks list for both sections. George's SPS List Finish on Alta Peak in 1992 was made memorable when his good friend, Wayne Wurzburger, presented him with a vanity license frame reading, '71 (George's age) + 247 (# of peaks on the list) = amazing feet (feat).'

Besides climbing, George was passionate about airplanes. He graduated top of his class from Cass Tech High School in 1940, specializing in high school aeronautics. A year later, he and his brothers bought their first airplane, and George got his pilot's license. After a stint in the Navy, George worked in aerospace at North American Aviation and then Litton until his retirement. He designed smaller models that were exact replicas of the large airplanes. When visiting the Smithsonian Institute, George exclaimed, 'There's one of the model planes I designed and built.' Sure enough, it was not a copy, but the actual airplane model. Travel, another passion, followed retirement. Friends remember George's annual Christmas parties where he presented slide shows of the year's destinations.

A devoutly religious man, George was a lector at St. Mel's Catholic Church, a volunteer position of which he was very proud. George is survived by his son, Tom, and relatives in both Michigan and California. The family is grateful to his caretaker, Deli, who enriched George's life during the past three years as he returned to his Reseda condo enjoying dinner parties with old friends.

Friends remember George 'Toby,' for his optimism and profound appreciation of life. He left no stones unturned in a great climbing career, traveling to the four corners of the world, and touching the lives of many friends and acquaintances.