JANUARY 2016
He is survived by his two brothers William C. Green ’61 and David W. Green ’63, niece, and nephews. Wendy L. Talbot ’70 May 27, 2015 Wendy passed away unexpectedly in the spring of 2015. The two institutions that meant the most to her in her life were Pocono Lake Preserve and George School. She grew up as a “faculty brat,” daughter of Polly and Jack Talbot who spent their years at George School from the early 1930s to Jack’s departure in 1966. Wendy finished George School as a boarding student and went on to West Chester University in West Chester PA where she played varsity tennis. She was a gifted athlete and had a career as a teaching tennis pro at Pocono Manor and Skytop Lodge, both in the Poconos. During the final years of her life she was a certified caretaker and worked mainly with elderly patients who enjoyed Wendy’s encouragement and wonderful care. At her memorial service at Pocono Lake Preserve many of Wendy’s admirers spoke of Wendy’s ability to relate so well to people of all ages and her special talent for caring for the elderly. George School was very well-represented at her service by Nancy Starmer, Karen Hallowell, John Streetz, Pamela A. Mederos-Streetz ’70, and Dirk and Jane Dunlap. Wendy’s siblings: Judith Talbot Campos ’57, James M. Talbot ’61, and Susie Talbot Herhold want to express their appreciation to the George School contingent for attending Wendy’s service. Wendy’s unbridled enthusiasm for George School and for Pocono Lake Preserve will be greatly missed. Daniel L. Eckert ’75 September 29, 2015 Daniel died suddenly at his home in Langhorne PA. After graduating from George School, he continued his studies at the American University in Washington, DC. Daniel later moved to the West Coast for many years. He moved back to the Lower Bucks County area in the mid-90s. He is
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survived by his brother, David O. Eckert ’74. Herbert M. (Herb) Hortman ’76 May 17, 2015 Herb, president of Hortman Aviation, was born in Trenton NJ, and will always be part of a legacy aviation family that has twelve past and present commercial pilots. It all began in 1932 when his father first soloed at the Mercer County Airport in Trenton NJ. The Hortman family continued training young men and women in the Delaware Valley as they expanded their facilities to the Sky Haven Airport, the sight of the former Fairless Hills (PA) steel plant, Morrisville airport, Bristol (3M), Doylestown, and presently North Philadelphia airports. Countless generations of aviators currently working for major airlines and corporations had their start because of Herb and “The Hortman” influence. Herb’s own aviation career began in the family business as a flight instructor, flying charters for numerous individuals and companies. He then went on to become a first officer for People Express and captain for Continental/ United Airlines. When not flying for the airlines, Herb was running the family business at North Philadelphia Airport. As a teacher, coach and mentor, Herb touched many lives. While instructing, he always encouraged his students to be the best they could be and to further their aviation careers. Being good wasn’t good enough for Herb. In the cockpit he taught respect for others, integrity, and focus. When he heard that an aviation student was learning to fly only as a hobby he quickly found them and told them that they had much more capability and should consider “a life in the airlines.” He told you what he thought and what he thought was best for you, his intentions were always to put others’ welfare and careers first. His compassion and high standards are reflected on everything that he touched. Because of his influence and belief in his students, the skies are filled with thousands of examples of
his mentoring. Herb is survived by his wife, their two children, and four siblings including Walter J. Hortman ’7 7 and Jeannine Hortman ’88, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Lauren Rendell ’96 May 11, 2015 F O R M E R FA C U LT Y A N D T R U S T E E
Leon Bass March 28, 2015 As a twenty year old US Army soldier in the all-black 183rd Combat Engineers Battalion, Leon Bass arrived at the Nazis’ Buchenwald extermination camp just one day after it had been liberated in April 1945. Bass saw the living skeletons of those who survived. The camp reeked of burned human flesh. The torture chambers were still covered in blood. After the war, Bass left the Army as a sergeant, returned to Philadelphia PA, and eventually became principal of Benjamin Franklin High School. He earned a doctorate in education from Temple University in Philadelphia PA. In 1968, a woman who survived the Holocaust spoke to his Benjamin Franklin students, who were less than attentive. Suddenly, Bass ordered the students to listen, telling them he also had seen the horrors the woman was describing. Afterward, the woman thanked him, and later he received a request to speak publicly about what he had seen as a liberator. Leon continued to speak out decade after decade, regularly appearing at Holocaust remembrance events honoring survivors and liberators. He explained that racism and anti-Semitism were manifestations of human hatred that constantly must be fought. Leon recalled that after he told students about his experiences, one of them asked why he had not spoken out before 1968 about the horrors of the war. He said it was one of the hardest questions he’d ever been asked. He told the student he had made a huge mistake. Although he correctly was attending to work and his family, he said he neglected a huge duty to tell everyone who would listen about