Eulogy of Dr. George Kramer

by Dr. Joseph Murray

It is difficult, if not impossible to thoroughly cover all the attributes of George and to adequately pay tribute to him. The truth is - no amount of words could ever express the way we all feel about George, or could ever adequately describe the type of person he was, the accomplishments he achieved or the impact he has had on us.

However, I would like to highlight what I feel were the three most outstanding characteristics that made George so special. First was his love for family, friends and life itself. Second was the generosity and service he gave so willingly to others; and third was the total unselfishness he portrayed throughout his life.

George loved people and he expressed this love by befriending so many - and not just befriending them, but by putting that friendship into action. He loved the University of Maryland and the people he worked with.

I can’t begin to list the many, many people he befriended over the years and the respect he earned. He loved his students and formed close, life-long friendships with many of them. George loved his Gymkana Troupe. He loved the members who have experienced it; and the ideals that it stands for. In short, George loved life and he lived life fully. He respected others and lived a philosophy he believed in. He lived a humble, moral, healthy, drug, alcohol and tobacco free life and helped to influence others to do the same.

George had a tremendous influence on people - mostly because he ‘practiced what he preached’.

George often told me that he believed one of the purposes in his life was to serve - and serve he did! George was one of the most talented and generous people I have ever known. There wasn’t a thing that George couldn’t do (well perhaps with the exception of singing) - from sewing to carpentry - from gardening to yachting - from mechanical work, repairing cars and rebuilding engines to refurbishing and rebuilding his yacht. But the one thing that made George’s talent so special was that he used it for others.

George would spend countless hours counseling students and Gymkana members. When I lived with him as a student, it seemed like the door bell would ring just about every time we were ready to sit down for dinner. Many a dinner went cold or even uneaten when this would happen. As time went on I became conditioned to turn off the stove when I heard the door bell ring. Being a young student and not understanding what George was trying to accomplish, I often would get aggravated with him. "George, why don’t you just tell them you’re about to eat and to come back later?" I would say. I can remember to this day - he looked at me with those big eyes (that always made you feel guilty) and said, "If I teach you that there is so much more to teaching and coaching than what takes place in a classroom or gym - then I will have been successful in helping you become a better educator."

Only after years and years of observing George and listening intently to him, have I come to realize what he was really trying to teach me. Now, as I sit in my office talking to my students and the Gymkana members that I coach, I often think back to that conversation we had so many years ago and am so grateful for the lesson he taught.

George also devoted a tremendous amount of time, energy and effort to the Gymkana Troupe that he loved so much. Some faculty never really understood why he felt Gymkana was so important. He often told me that he believed there needs to be faculty interested and willing to work with students in other areas than just academics. He believed in young people and in providing a place for them to work out and share experiences together. He believed in providing a wholesome environment where healthy lifestyles, gymnastic skill and social skills could be developed and he believed that if he could set the example and influence them in this way, they in turn would be willing to influence others. His concept of Gymkana was a "home away from home" - something he felt students needed while attending such a large University. George spent over 34 years of his professional life, giving his time without pay each day after day, month after month and year after year in order to achieve this objective. Today Gymkana continues on with the philosophy and objectives George established. As of this day, Gymkana has over 600 alumni and its message of drug- free living has been delivered to well over 100,000 young people.

George gave freely to so many without ever expecting anything in return:

To the University
To his students
To his Gymkana Troupe To his colleagues
To his friends
To his family and
To me.

He demonstrated what true Christian friendship is all about. As for me - I cannot begin to tell you how much George helped me, influenced me and has given me throughout my life. There are truly no words that can express my appreciation and love for him:

He was my teacher
He was my coach
He was my mentor
He was a second father to me - and

for that matter - a second

father to my son Bryan

He was my companion and

He was my very dear friend.

He took me under his wing for 35 years. He taught me, always encouraged me, counseled me, molded me, scolded me, yet helped me in every way.

How can I ever express my appreciation for him in a few words other than to say that I will honor him and love him for the rest of my life. I will never forget him. One of the greatest gifts that God could give any of us is to have one true friend in life - I truly have been blessed with this gift. All of us who have been touched by his friendship have been blessed.

I believe God has blessed George as well. George once told me that the way he keeps religion in his heart, and the way he loves the Lord, is to love and help others as much as he can. I know of no better way to keep the two greatest commandments (Love God and Love Thy Neighbor) than the way George has lived his life. What an honor it has been to have known him and what an influence and impact he has had on all of us.

I believe one of the greatest accomplishments a person can achieve in life is to be honored because of the life you have lived, the things you have said, and the way you have helped others, has made a difference. George’s life has indeed made a difference. As we remember how much he loved us, how much he served us, and how unselfish he was toward us, we honor him and celebrate his life.

We are also here today, as difficult as it is, to celebrate his death. Although we have lost a friend, he will be with us forever in our hearts, and also with the Lord forever in heaven. I can say this with faith and conviction because I have witnessed over the years we have lived together, and especially over these past few years, a

tremendous change in George; a spiritual change that I’m sure most people were not aware of. Perhaps George himself was unaware of it, but nevertheless it occurred.

I know George was a very private person, but I would like to share with you one aspect of this change that has sustained me and given me hope throughout his illness (especially over these past six months). George and I have prayed together every evening without fail throughout his illness. Not only did we pray for his healing, but as unselfish as he was and as sick as he was he reminded me that we should also pray for our families and friends as well, especially for friends that were ill. We listed everyone by name and never missed a night. About six months ago, after a treatment of chemotherapy, George was very ill in the hospital. One night, after my usual visit, I said goodbye and started to leave. He called me back and said, "Joe, why doesn’t the Lord want to heal me?" Now that’s a very difficult question to answer. I assured him that God loved him very much. I reminded him that God’s ways are not our ways. I told him that I believed he was healed, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual way. He began to tell me all about his childhood and his christian upbringing. He told me how he had gone to church and Sunday School every week year after year. He told me that his favorite prayer was Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my Shephard". Then to my absolute amazement, he recited the entire prayer, word for word, from memory. Our talk lasted about two hours that night. Before it had ended, he had recommitted himself to the Lord, we prayed together for salvation, and he accepted Jesus into his life as his Lord and Savior. I know that he is in a far better place now than you or I could ever imagine and that "black cloud" that he said followed him around throughout his life is gone forever. I know he is with God and is now finally happy.