George Francis LaTulippe

George Francis LaTulippe, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, died of old age after a life well-loved and well-lived. He was the beloved and only child of his parents, a devoted husband to his wife Mary Jo, an ever-supportive father to Mark and Patricia, a doting grandpa to his ‘twiflets,’ and a cherished friend to many throughout his life.

George attended East High School before joining the Air Force at the age of seventeen to make his own way in the world, much to his mother’s dismay. There, he served as a firefighter for two years – a period he credited with helping him mature and understand the realities of life. After his military service, George pursued higher education at the University of Utah and Utah State University, earning advanced degrees in psychology, education, and administration.

Initially, George taught in White Rocks, Utah on the Uintah-Ouray Reservation. During this time, he embraced the culture and community with joy and respect. Later, he found employment in the private business sector. Yet despite the higher earnings, George soon realized his true calling was in education. He switched paths, teaching geography at Roy Junior High School. His passion for education led him to become the school psychologist for Weber School District. In addition to this role, he created a program for inmates at the Ogden City Jail, showing his dedication to positively impacting his community. George later served as principal at Washington Terrace Elementary School and helped open a new school in Farr West, Utah. After retiring from Weber School District, he continued to shape young minds as an administrator and supervisor for student teachers at Weber State College. Especially concerned that the student teachers on the Navajo Reservation were certified, George regularly traveled across Arizona and Utah

George embodied the essence of being kind, not through grand gestures, but through quiet, subtle acts of kindness and love. He was known for his gentle smile. George’s laugh was contagious– a deep belly laugh that could leave him and those around him wheezing for air. Though his family was small, he enriched his life with many valued lasting friendships.

He was committed to his principles and beliefs without imposing his belief on others. This included being a secularist, which he explained to a curious grandchild as “relying upon rational thought and human experience to determine right versus wrong.” He was open to discourse on nearly any subject, embodying a “to each their own” approach. He cheered for the underdog and was ready to lend a hand or offer an opportunity to those in need. Self-driven and confident in his identity from an early age, George was loyal, and ready to help. He loved history and reading, the mountains and city of Ogden, black labs, owls, ginger ale and Arnold Palmers, and trying a “little bit of both” for dessert.

George was a lifelong learner and adventurer. Before Google, he was a walking encyclopedia, retaining and recounting many learned stories from history. In his 40s, he took up sailing. In his 50s he learned to ski. He and Mary Jo traveled extensively, including with Elder Hostels, exploring new areas together. When traveling, he and Mary Jo often found souvenirs to add to their unique Christmas Village which encompassed a good portion of their downstairs.

George was the first man in his family to live past the age of 60. He was ever so thankful for modern medicine, which he attributed to his longevity, in addition to jogging well into his retirement. In 2012, George joined a rare club of people who survive cardiac arrest outside the hospital. George would often remind us that “getting old wasn’t for sissies.” He acknowledged that he was in the “winter of his life” and taught us how to “stay the course” until the end with humor and grace. Because of his commitment to lifelong learning, George felt strongly that he should continue to “educate” by donating his body to the University of Utah School of Medicine.

George is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Jo Giles LaTulippe, and his cherished daughter, Patricia Lynne LaTulippe (Scott Stoker), and his cousin, Jack Thompson. He was a proud grandfather to Christopher Handy, Lisa (Handy) Forester, and Rachel (Handy) Cowan, and a loving great-grandfather to eight great-grandchildren. George was predeceased by his son, Mark Steven LaTulippe, the painful loss of which he carried with grace.

George’s legacy is one of compassion, dedication to education, unwavering support and unconditional love. We are honored and lucky to have known him and to have loved him. We will think of him with a twinkle in his big blue eyes and a soft knowing smile, cheering us on with love.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Salt Lake City Veterans Hospital, Michael Sanders, The Ridge, and Levon Sione.

Please join us for a celebration of life on Saturday, February 1, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Weber State University’s Lindquist Alumni Center, 1235 Village Drive Dept. 3701 Ogden, Utah 84408. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mark S. LaTulippe Memorial Scholarship Fund at Weber State University at give.weber.edu/latulippememorial are appreciated.