Northeast Classic Car Museum founder George Staley mourned
LINCKLAEN – The Northeast Classic Car Museum’s most generous benefactor, George E. Staley, passed away at his home on Friday. He was 92.
Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, who had the opportunity to know Staley through the museum, described him as a man of intelligence, wit and generosity and “the greatest of the greatest generation.”
“Through his generosity, so many things happened,” said Angelino, pointing out both Staley’s involvement with the NECCM and his efforts to restore his former school house, which is now the DeRuyter Town Hall. “He had such vision and such compassion to do good.”
Angelino said Staley was a humble man for all he had seen and done in his lifetime. He traveled the world during his career in the aviation industry, not only owning his own repair company, but also serving as a consultant to the U.S. military during World War II.
It was after returning home to Lincklaen in 1988 following his retirement, that Staley began to concentrate more fully on his lifelong passion for collecting and restoring antique automobiles.
Through the NECCM, which he helped found in 1995, Staley shared his passion – and his impressive collection – with the world.
According to Phil Giltner, a member of the NECCM board of directors, the museum owes its existence, and success, to Staley.
“He is the heart and the foundation of the museum,” he said. “His initial contribution and continued support has made the museum what it is today.”
He described the organization’s benefactor as honest, genuine and “one of a kind” and said he will be gravely missed.
“He was just a wonderful, wonderful person,” said NECCM Executive Director Doreen Bates. “His presence just filled the room.”
Bates recalled one of her first meetings with Staley after joining the museum staff three years ago. On that occasion, she was treated to a personal tour by the man himself. She, like those visitors who had the fortune of being at the museum when Staley dropped by, were treated to stories about each of the cars he had so lovingly restored.
“He truly had a passion and was willing to share that passion with everyone,” she said. “He told you the story so vividly that you could just imagine yourself being there.”
She said she believes the museum to be one of Staley’s greatest legacies. Currently approximately 100 of the 160 vehicles on display are on loan from his collection.
“People from all over the world come here and see pieces of history because of George.”
Staley is survived by his sons, Claude and James and their families, as well as his son-in-law Lawrence Loffredo and his family. He had seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Genevieve and daughter Jeanne Loffreda.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Smith Funeral Home in DeRuyter. Services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home before he is laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery, DeRuyter.
As per his family’s wishes, contributions can be made in his memory to the DeRuyter Free Library or the Northeast Classic Car Museum.
A complete obituary appears in today’s edition of The Evening Sun.
Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, who had the opportunity to know Staley through the museum, described him as a man of intelligence, wit and generosity and “the greatest of the greatest generation.”
“Through his generosity, so many things happened,” said Angelino, pointing out both Staley’s involvement with the NECCM and his efforts to restore his former school house, which is now the DeRuyter Town Hall. “He had such vision and such compassion to do good.”
Angelino said Staley was a humble man for all he had seen and done in his lifetime. He traveled the world during his career in the aviation industry, not only owning his own repair company, but also serving as a consultant to the U.S. military during World War II.
It was after returning home to Lincklaen in 1988 following his retirement, that Staley began to concentrate more fully on his lifelong passion for collecting and restoring antique automobiles.
Through the NECCM, which he helped found in 1995, Staley shared his passion – and his impressive collection – with the world.
According to Phil Giltner, a member of the NECCM board of directors, the museum owes its existence, and success, to Staley.
“He is the heart and the foundation of the museum,” he said. “His initial contribution and continued support has made the museum what it is today.”
He described the organization’s benefactor as honest, genuine and “one of a kind” and said he will be gravely missed.
“He was just a wonderful, wonderful person,” said NECCM Executive Director Doreen Bates. “His presence just filled the room.”
Bates recalled one of her first meetings with Staley after joining the museum staff three years ago. On that occasion, she was treated to a personal tour by the man himself. She, like those visitors who had the fortune of being at the museum when Staley dropped by, were treated to stories about each of the cars he had so lovingly restored.
“He truly had a passion and was willing to share that passion with everyone,” she said. “He told you the story so vividly that you could just imagine yourself being there.”
She said she believes the museum to be one of Staley’s greatest legacies. Currently approximately 100 of the 160 vehicles on display are on loan from his collection.
“People from all over the world come here and see pieces of history because of George.”
Staley is survived by his sons, Claude and James and their families, as well as his son-in-law Lawrence Loffredo and his family. He had seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Genevieve and daughter Jeanne Loffreda.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Smith Funeral Home in DeRuyter. Services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home before he is laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery, DeRuyter.
As per his family’s wishes, contributions can be made in his memory to the DeRuyter Free Library or the Northeast Classic Car Museum.
A complete obituary appears in today’s edition of The Evening Sun.
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