George Matson Mack, a long-time resident of Mercer Island, died peacefully at his home on September 26, 2017. George is survived by Anne, his wife of 61 years, daughter Elizabeth McDonald (Marc) of Sequim, sons Karl (Xiang) of San Francisco, Ed (Lori) of Sammamish, and Andy (Jaime) of White Salmon, sisters Susan and Mary Ashley, three grandchildren, and seven nieces and nephews.

George was born in Columbus, Ohio on November 07, 1929 to Louise and Edward Mack Jr. Early in his life his family moved to Chapel Hill North Carolina where he attended elementary school, later returning to Columbus, Ohio in 1938. He was very competitive academically and in sports, playing basketball, baseball and football. George graduated from Miami University, Ohio, majoring in Government, with minors in History and Economics. He was awarded the Phi Kappa Tau all-around senior man in 1951. George continued his education at the University of Michigan, graduating with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1954. He was inducted into the United States Army in 1954 and served in Europe with the Counter Intelligence Corps until 1956. It was while he was stationed in Stuttgart Germany that he met the love of his life, his wife Anne.

After returning to the States, George and Anne settled in Detroit Michigan, but yearning for adventure, moderate weather and landscapes with topography, they moved west to Seattle in 1958. In Seattle, George joined Roberts, Shefelman, Lawrence, Gay & Moch and developed his law practice specializing in public finance, environmental, public employment and educational law, being a strong advocate for teachers. George was admitted to practice in Michigan, Ohio, and Washington States, and to the United States Supreme Court. George cared passionately about community, volunteering his time to numerous causes including fair housing which at the time was controversial, public education, and various political campaigns over the years. George was a strong supporter environmental causes, often providing his legal guidance to important local and regional causes.

George had numerous other interests, passion for opera, classical music, history and art, nature, good wine, food and friendships, and Mariners baseball. George built an extensive wine collection along with an equally extensive knowledge of wines, and regularly helped out at the DeLille Cellars wine crushes. A dinner with George always included a short course on the enology of the wine he had selected for dinner. George kept honey bees while delicately managing relations with the local bears when the bee hives were kept in the mountains during the summer months. He was a catcher on the local Seattle Parks and Rec’s Drifters slow pitch softball team from the early 1960’s through to his mid 60’s. Summer months always featured many enjoyable weekend outdoor salmon bakes where George the salmon chef extraordinaire served up delicious alder wood baked salmon to family and friends.

Upon retirement, George and Anne traveled extensively throughout the world, river rafting the North Slope of Alaska to adventures in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, South America, and Antarctica.

George was a renaissance man with broad interests, a fierce sense of ethics, a fierce belief in the ideals of the United States, with a wry sense of humor, a punster, a story teller. He is deeply missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service was held at Tahoma National Cemetery on November 7, 2017. Remembrances if interested, may be made to Conservation Northwest.