George Frederick Drew (Gus), 88
HEBRON, MD - With monumental pride and honor the family of George Frederick Drew (a.k.a. "Gus") announces his passing on March 1, 2024. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his wife Sue and family.
Born on February 9, 1936, in Plainfield, New Jersey, he grew up on Millwood Farm in Mount Vernon, Maryland. He served honorably in the Air Force and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Agriculture. By vocation he was a farmer and educator. By passion he was an accomplished sailor, pilot, shipwright, mechanic, inventor, and craftsman.
Gus's love for farming began early. At three, his father welded a make shift seat onto the family tractor, then fastened Gus in with bailing wire. He would ride with his dad for hours. Gus later took over the same farm (Millwood), and farmed the land for many years. Farming was also a creative outlet for Gus, where he invented, then built many pieces of farm equipment, including various hitches, bridles, sprayers, and cultivators. Never to miss out on a bargain, Gus purchased an old combine at an auction, reusing its engine to run the irrigation. It still runs today. Content with "good enough," he never quite finished all projects. As soon as he could picture what it might look like, he would declare it "done."
Gus was infected with a love of the water for his entire life. Thinking about boats, building boats and being on the water was a constant. Not long after building his first canoe, Gus and his brother John built an open wooden power boat. His father fashioned a power screw driver from a surplus electric motor, and the work crew used it to attached the hull cladding with surplus screws. Some of the screws were longer than needed, producing sharp points on this inside of the hull. The solution was to instruct all passengers to watch your step. Later in life Gus and a boat builder were delivering a new catamaran. During a night watch while transiting offshore in the Atlantic, the catamaran collided with an unlit buoy. The vessel had lodged on top of the buoy, midway between the two hulls. After much rigging, pushing, pulling, and assistance from nearby vessels, the catamaran was freed with minor scraps and a humbled crew.
Never a slave to convention, he labored three years in his barn, building his pride and joy, "Truly Fair (Fairly True)" a 27-foot power catamaran. He and Sue successfully cruised nearly 65,000 miles aboard, traveling the East Coast, Great Lakes, parts of Canada and the Bahamas.
Clever Gus had a unique ability to size up and handle problems in a way that the punishment fit the crime. Observing the bulging pocket of a student during a fundraiser selling oranges, he wordlessly walked over and squeezed the orange until the juice ran down the student's leg. Never a word was said.
He was interested in a wide array of subjects and a devoted student of those he chose.
A loving man with a winning smile and twinkly face, he will be missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing him. He was wonderfully witty, charming, gentle, curious and creative. Always a patient teacher, he put everyone at ease with his tender way.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sue; farm poodle, Charlie; children, Matt Drew, Kate Fears, Alysia D'Ambrogi, Chris Lehman; siblings, John Drew and Rachel Sigler, and their families.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the MAC Center Gym or Hospice.