George M. Radcliffe, 89

EASTON - George M. Radcliffe, a former Baltimore and Cambridge resident, presently of Easton, died Friday night, March 13, 2009, in Memorial Hospital, Easton. He was 89. Born on June 9, 1919, in Baltimore, he was the son of the late George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe (former U.S. Senator) and the late Mary McKim Marriott Radcliffe. He was raised in Baltimore and was a graduate of Gilman High School, class of 1939. In 1943 he graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, from Princeton University. Mr. Radcliffe then served his country from June 3, 1943 to May of 1946 as a veteran in the United States Army, Army Air Corp Division, where he was an aircraft maintenance engineer stationed on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. Following military service, he received a Law Degree from the University of Maryland. On Oct. 9, 1948, he married the former Augusta Heiskell Boggs. Mr. Radcliffe practiced law for most of his career with the firm Niles, Barton and Wilmer of Baltimore. He was admitted to practice before Maryland Court of Appeals in 1948, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit 1959 and the Supreme Court of the United States 1960. Mr. Radcliffe had worked privately for the past couple of years. During the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s Mr. Radcliffe chaired the first Planning and Zoning Commission for Baltimore City that planned much of the revitalization for the city and harbor. Mr. Radcliffe was proud to actively encourage environmental conservation on his family property, Spocott, and was the first landowner in the state to obtain a Conservation Easement for his property. Mr. Radcliffe was a Communicant and Eucharistic Minister of St. Mary, Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church, Cambridge. He was also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Civic and charitable organizations benefited greatly from his knowledge and generosity. They include Past President of Baltimore Goodwill Industries; member, Past President, Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Cambridge; Past President of the Board of Directors Dorchester General Hospital; member and Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Dorchester County Historical Society; Founder and President of the Spocott Windmill Foundation; member, Past President, Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Grace Foundation of Taylors Island; Past Trustee of Washington College; and volunteer for the Meals on Wheels Program. Surviving is his wife of 59 years, Augusta "Gussie" Radcliffe of Easton; a son, George Marriott Radcliffe Jr. and his wife Jackie of Cambridge; extended family, Buzz and Jane Follmer of Cambridge; two grandsons, John Scott Radcliffe and his wife Meghan of Veedersburg, Ind., Gregory McCann Radcliffe and his wife Melissa of Cambridge; three great-children, Malia, Sam and Julia Radcliffe; extended family, William and Kaitlin Follmer. Preceding him in death were three children, Augusta Heiskell Radcliffe Follmer, William Boggs Radcliffe, Mary McKim Radcliffe; a grandson, Andrew McKim Radcliffe; extended family, Christian Follmer. Committal service was held on Monday, March 16, 2009, in Druid Ridge Cemetery, 7900 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville. A visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., Monday, March 16, 2009. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in St. Mary, Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church, Glasgow St. and Hambrooks Blvd, Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made in George's memory to Spocott Windmill Foundation, 1663 Hudson Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613 or to St. Mary, Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church, P.O. Box 218, Cambridge, MD 21613. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.curran-bromwell.com.