George C. Saunders

Dr. George Saunders, left this physical world peacefully on September 16, to be with his wife, Katherine. He had been in declining health in recent years.

Dr. Saunders was born June 5, 1923 in St. John, New Brunswick and grew up in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Upon graduation from high school, he entered Boston University with a major of French. With the start of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and rose to the rank of first lieutenant in the military police.

After the war, he enrolled at the University of New Hampshire, where he played varsity hockey, completed his Bachelors Degree (1949) and married the former Katherine Watt. He got a Masters Degree from Columbia University in 1951. His first teaching assignment was at the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut. He accepted an Assistant Principal position in Bethpage, New York.

In 1957, he moved his grow family to Gloversville, New York, where he was hired as Estee Junior High Principal. Over the next nine years, his career flourished as he was promoted to Gloversville High School Principal and Assistant Superintendent of Schools. With the drive to steer his own ship, Dr. Saunders moved his family to Phelps, New York, to be the District Principal of the Phelps School System in 1966. Two years later, he accepted the position of Superintendent of the Beekmantown Central School System in Beekmantown, New York. Concurrently he completed the courses work and thesis to earn his Doctor of Education Degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1969. After his retirement, he was asked to cover the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Plattsburgh City School System in Plattsburgh, New York, which he was please to accept.

In his retirement years in New Hampshire, he performed other public service functions. Dr. Saunders was on the Board of the Salvation Army, Harrisville Zoning Board and the Monadnock Substance Abuse Prevention organization.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Katherine (Watt) Saunders; his parents, Richard and Ella (Corbett) Saunders; his siblings, Robert (Elsie) King; Bessie (John) Rose and Beatrice (Anthony) Christino. Survivors include his sister Frances Hayes; children, Stephen (Mary) Saunders of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Thomas Saunders of Edgewater, New Jersey; and Carol (Dennis) McCahon of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; grandchildren Jeremy (Melissa) Saunders Sr. of Birmingham, Alabama; Erica (Jerry) Evans of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Elizabeth (Kelly) Reed of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Alison McCahon of Boston, Massachusetts, and great grandchildren, Jeremy Saunders Jr., Gerek Evans, Austin Reed and Kate Reed.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford, MA on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11 oclock. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beekmantown Central School (please note, Saunders Scholarship Fund in the memo) 37 Eagle Way, West Chazy, NY 12992.

Service Information
October 4, 2014 11:00am,
Blake Funeral Home
24 Worthen Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824