George Edward Hubbell was born to Jesse and Clara Hubbell on March 10, 1926, in the coal mining town of Clay City, Indiana.
George lettered in basketball at Clay City High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and, upon graduation from Purdue University, was commissioned as an officer shortly before the war's end. His naval career began with coaching sports and geometry at the Naval Academy Prep School and training midshipmen aboard cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and South America.
He later served during the Cold War in the Pacific, including offshore Korea and Vietnam, then with NATO planning in Germany, and finally with amphibious special ops training in Southern California.
George met Cita Dennis at the Officers’ Club in Algiers during one of his Atlantic tours and married her on the next. Together they had sons Paul, Philip, and Daniel while stationed on the east coast, and daughter Amy while on the west coast.
Upon retirement from the Navy, George and Cita returned to Cita’s home town of New Orleans. They quickly immersed themselves in the restoration of Victorian homes in old Algiers and, with others, founded the Algiers Point Association. As a real estate agent and contractor, George assisted dozens of new Algerines in selecting and restoring their homes, thus helping to preserve the living museum of nineteenth century architecture that is now Algiers Point.
Preceded in death by his beloved Cita after fifty-three years’ marriage, George remained in Algiers Point and continued to benefit the neighborhood and his neighbors. Mirroring Cita’s efforts after Hurricane Betsy, he worked with daughter Amy to press for the re-opening of the neighborhood branch library after it was again closed by extensive damage from termites and Hurricane Katrina. An iconic legacy of his community spirit is the annual neighborhood Christmas tree sale benefiting the library. Well into his 90s, he continued to inspire many with his energy, love of life and commitment to community.
George took great pride in grandsons Shannon and Michael, and niece Sharon Hubbell Ide. He particularly delighted in engaging with his great-grandchildren, Colin and Claire.
George Edward Hubbell was closely attended by his daughter, Amy, and died quietly in his home at the Suites of Algiers Point on April 18, 2022. He will join Cita at the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.
A celebration of George’s life will be planned for Algiers Point in May.