Calvin (Cal) Henry George Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Calvin (Cal) Henry George (Denver, Colorado), who passed away in April, 2023, at the age of 77. If you'd like, please leave a message to the family on the memorial page of Calvin (Cal) Henry George.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 2nd 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Montezuma Lodge (Santa Fe, NM 87501). To see a photo montage and view a recording of the service, go to https://virtualmemorialgatherings.com.
Born in Davenport, Iowa, to Dorathea M. (Volckmann) and Franklin A. George, he grew up in Westchester, Illinois, outside of Chicago. Cal received his BA in English, Theater and Education from Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin, his MA in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and attended the prestigious University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop (graduate Poetry, undergrad Fiction).
Cal’s career in the nonprofit sector was dedicated to helping others, from workforce development to national service, economic and social policy, labor market demand and human service delivery systems. He held leadership positions focused on community economic development, health care reform, employment and training, and basic skills and literacy.
While at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in Washington, D.C., Cal founded the Community HealthCorps, a federal AmeriCorps program to improve the capacity and effectiveness of community-based health care delivery designed to increase access to primary and preventive care for the underserved and improve patient self-management. As National Director, Cal grew the organization to numerous program sites/affiliates across the country with over 400 community health promoters at 70 clinic locations.
His career began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Social Development Commission and Office of Manpower Program Development. Later, Cal held leadership positions at Youthwork, Inc., US BASICS, a Ford Foundation funded project, and the National Committee for Full Employment, co-chaired by Coretta Scott King. Cal served on many grant review teams for various Health and Human Services programs.
He was an active member of Beth Chai, 40 Plus of Greater Washington and local arts organizations. Cal advocated for and participated in fitness activities throughout his life and continued to exercise regularly at the Santa Fe Spa even while struggling with cancer.
Cal discovered photography as a young child and was an incredible photographer with a minimalist approach focused on beauty and architecture. His photographs appeared in gallery exhibits including Red Dot and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC). At SFCC he studied with Will Wilson, Diné (Navajo) artist and department chair. Founder of calgeorge photography (http://www.calgeorge.com), Cal created many intriguing portfolios (e.g., seduced by color and light, edges and spaces). Cal was thrilled to have his work accepted and reviewed by professionals for annual portfolio reviews at the Medium Festival of Photography in San Diego. This was an honor for Cal and one of his proudest achievements. He also attended many AIPAD art fairs in NYC.
A fervent movie buff, he loved music, the theater, art galleries and museums, literature, discussing politics and current events, dancing, and dining with family and friends.
Cal maintained close relationships with a wide network of friends and family and would endearingly tell jokes or respond with a clever quip. Cal participated in his family’s long round-robin tradition, keeping bundles of letters circulating to update each other.
Cal met his wife Pat Tiliakos Lovenhart on a Sagafjord cruise to Alaska. They were married for over 26 years and lived in D.C., Bethesda, Maryland, and Dunn Loring, Virginia, before relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2011. They loved hanging out together on weekends, watching movies and spending time with their son and daughter. Cal also loved frequent long chats with his best friend and sister.
He is predeceased by his parents, first wife Alixe McNeill, aunt Catharine Volkmann, and special friends Donald Sykes, Sunni Knight, Frank Slobig, Ben Usher, Judy Conway, and Katie Kiedrowski. He is survived by his wife Pat, daughter Karen Tiliakos, Santa Fe, NM, son Mark Steven Tiliakos, Woodbridge, VA, sister Catharine Margaret Bailes (Keith), El Cajon, CA, nieces Wendy Gardner, Mandy Gardner, Allysa Hawkins (Daniel), Tennessee, and best friend, Robert Knight, Silver Spring, MD.
Cal’s hearty laugh would reverberate at social gatherings. With his love of life and can-do spirit, when someone would ask Cal how he was, even after being diagnosed with cancer, he would usually reply “better than I think I am” and end phone conversations with "to be continued”.
