George Shortlidge
Marriages
Shirley - 1947
Obituaries
Vail Trail - March 30, 2001
George Shortlidge died of cancer on Monday March 27 at Tucson Medical Center in Tuscon, Ariz.. He was 84.
Vail Trail page 24 - March 30, 2001
Shortlidge a fierce battler remembered fondly by valley
George Shortlidge, who during the last few decades was dubbed the "ultimate survivor" by family and friends because of his fierce determination to beat odds of different cancers he battled so valiantly, died Monday, March 26, at Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz. He was 84
A passionate skier, he enjoyed his new career as a ski school instructor after retiring and moving to Vail in 1975. He and his wife Shirley were well known in local golf circles. Shortlidge worked in many capacities on the Vail Golf Course, including serving as a course ranger, until cancer and heart problems sapped his strength. The he turned to computers, designing programs that helped streamline local golf tournaments, according to fellow golfer, Ann Mardis. Mardis describes Shortlidge as a good guy whose wonderful, friendly face was a delight to encounter on the golf course, as was his wife Shirley's.
"George was a delightful character and a good friend," says Ralph Davis, who first met Shortlidge when they were both teaching skiing. They also share World War II naval experiences. "George was such fun to be with, and he certainly was a fighter."
And George was clearly not a quitter, writes Shortlidge's nephew Clint Smith.
"He always had some project he was working on and he never, never seemed unhappy or depressed. He always had...something new he was trying to learn, some joke he wanted to tell.
"He loved his wife and family unflaggingly, and his optimism about the future was infectious." Smith adds. "His inquisitiveness was such that I always wondered who was the first real 'Curious George.' I will miss him greatly as I know that those of you who knew him in any was will as well."
Born Oct. 22, 1916, in Wallingford, Conn., Shortlidge spent a year in Germany while in high school. That's where he gained his love for skiing.
Shortlidge also discovered flying when an air show came to town. After climbing into the cockpit of an airplane, says Shortlidge's son, Rusty, his father knew flying would become his passion.
Shortlidge graduated from Harvard in 1940 with a degree in engineering. While attending Harvard, he contributed to the prestigious Harvard Lampoon and was a coxswain on the varsity crew team. His crew team earned the privilege of rowing in the Henley Regatta in England.
Shortlidge also joined the Civil Air Patrol while in college, earning his pilot's license. He then joined the U.S. Navy and was a member of the first Naval Aviation Cadet class to graduated from Jacksonville, Fla.'s Naval Aviation Base. Shortlidge served for the duration of WWII, first as an instructor stateside and then a combat pilot.
During his term of service, Shortlidge was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals and was discharged as a captain. He married his wife Shirley in March of 1947. After World War II, he flew for a short time with Pan American, then tried ranching in Montana. Shortlidge then joined U.S. Steel Corporation, where he flew for their aviation department based Birmingham, Ala. After relocating to Pittsburgh, he retired in 1975 and the Shortlidges moved to Vail. He taught skiing part time and became a full-time fixture on the Vail Golf Course.
Shortlidge worked on the maintenance crew first for Ben Krueger and then Ernie Bender. His maintenance of the driving range is legendary, says son Rusty. His passion for computers took him into the clubhouse, where he was in charge of the time cards and helped with tournaments.
As his legs and passion for skiing faded, Rusty adds, his parents began spending the winters in Arizona, first in Phoenix then Sedona and finally Tucson, where he has made his final approach.
"His sense of humor, his willingness to help others and his likable personality will be missed," Rusty says.
In addition to his wife and son, his is survived by a grandson, Chandler Shortlidge of Vail, and a sister, Jill Drabek, of Peterborough, N.H.
Shortlidge's cremated remains will be interred this summer along-side his mother, father, and sisters in the woods of New Hampshire. A memorial gathering is being tentatively planned in Vail sometime this summer.
Correspondence may be sent to Shirley Shortlidge at 9225 E. Tanque Verde, #32-101, Tucson, Ariz. 85749. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Harold W. and Mary Louise Shaw Regional Cancer Center. Checks can be made to: Vail Valley Medical Foundation, Cancer Center and sent to the Vail Valley Medical Center Office of Development, 181 W. Meadow Drive, #100, Vail, Colo. 81657
