George L Hossfield

George L. Hossfield, Jr.

May 12, 2020



George L. Hossfield, Jr, 97, of Mattapoisett MA died May 12, 2020 in his apartment in Carbondale IL. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, M. Jaqueline (Dwyer) Hossfield in 2015.



Born in Paterson, NJ to the late George L. Hossfield and Frieda E. (Marty) Hossfield, he lived in Paterson and Teaneck NJ, Cambridge, Quincy, Walpole, and Mattapoisett MA. He had wintered in Dunedin, FL for 30 years and summered in Mattapoisett since 1972. He passed away in Carbondale under the care of his loving daughter.



Born into a family who treasured music, Mr. Hossfield began playing the piano like his father at a young age and played the violin in his high school orchestra. He focused on classical piano and became a proficient pianist filling his home with the sounds of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach and Mozart.



After graduating from Teaneck High School, Mr. Hossfield studied electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA having his studies interrupted by WWII. He served as a weather forecaster in the U.S. Army Air Force during the war and was able to return to his studies and graduate as an electrical engineer from MIT after the war. He worked for a power company after graduation and married M. Jacqueline Dwyer June 5, 1948. They lived in Quincy before buying their first home in Walpole. Later he earned a masters degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University.



While living in Walpole Mr. Hossfield was an active member of the Epiphany Episcopal Church (Superintendent of Sunday School), the Azure Masonic Lodge and Troop 97 of the Boy Scouts of America. He was an avid gardener and bee keeper. He learned carpentry and fine cabinetry at a trade school to add an attached garage and bedroom on his first house and build all the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and a second bathroom in his second home in addition to many other home projects. He was very interested in geology and a member of the Boston Mineral Club. He brought his family to many mines to chisel out various specimens, bringing them home to create an impressive collection that has delighted many visitors.



While a student at MIT he began sailing on the Charles River and taught his future wife to enjoy sailing as well. Later he taught his children and grandchildren to sail and was active in the Power Squadron where he mastered seamanship and celestial navigation. He sailed his own boats on lakes in Maine and Massachusetts and in the sea in Boston Harbor and Buzzards Bay, spending weekends sailing to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, the Elizabethan Islands and Block Island. He shared a love of the ocean with his wife and in 1972 they purchased their home on the water in Mattapoisett MA where they enjoyed the association of the Point Connett and Mattapoisett community and hosted almost constant visits from children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends. He spent many hours in his later years sitting on their deck watching children play on the sandbars and sailboat races across the bay and greeting all the neighbors as they passed by. In Mattapoisett he was a member of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Marion, MA and the Pythagorean Masonic Lodge in Marion.



Through his employment with Allis Chalmers he spent many months traveling in Europe, learning German, French, and Dutch and loving all the people and their cultures. Later he brought his wife and sons with him to Europe, Japan, and China on various trips. He also went out of his way to visit relatives and his ancestral homes in Switzerland and Germany.

While wintering in Florida Mr. Hossfield enjoyed participating in all the Cedar Creek Court social activities and he became co-editor with his wife of the monthly newsletter for 17 years. He also began studying, collecting, cleaning and classifying sea shells. His wife got him to share her zest for yard sales.



Survivors include three sons, George Hossfield, III and his wife Jing of Sandown, NH, Robin Hossfield and his wife Linda of Vero Beach, FL, and Dale Hossfield of Vero Beach, FL; a daughter, Brooke Thibeault and her husband Thom of Carbondale, IL; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews with whom he corresponded.



He was the brother of the late Berenice Hossfield Voght of Charleston RI.



A celebration of life is being planned for sometime in the summer when the pandemic allows. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 545, Marion MA 02738 or the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 186 Tremont St., Boston MA 02111.



Arrangements are with the Neptune Society of Florida and Meredith Funeral Home, 300 S University Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901.