When I asked Terry George to chat about his experiences, his first remarks were about his OHANA of Rotary. Terry immediately acknowledged how sad he was about the passing of our former Rotarian, Dave Benson…the founder of the Bobby Benson Center. “Rotary is like family. Our heart-to-heart talks with each other, our love of Hawaii, and Rotary’s mission of encouraging us to roll up our sleeves and make a difference, create a special bond…and we have fun doing it.”
Terry joined the Rotary Club of Honolulu in 2003, at the urging of Paddy Griggs and Patti Lyons. As President of our club in 2017-18, Terry initiated a project in Lanai City…ideally across from the cop shop…and RCOH Rotarians transformed a little plantation area home into a Domestic Violence Center. As President, Terry also began the sit-down ‘C SUITE’ interviews with local CEOs during many of our meetings. (Takes one to know one)
Born in St. Paul Minnesota in 1958, the George family moved to Tokyo when he was 3, eventually ending up in Honolulu for 8th grade and beyond. Then after college on the mainland, he spent most of the next 20 years teaching English to students in Sumatra…and eventually improving the lives of those in Southeast Asia while working with the Ford Foundation. Terry met and married Julie in 1994, when he was back in Hawaii. They share 2 kids…21 and 18.
With the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Terry’s work as President and CEO focuses on preparing Hawaii’s children and youth for a successful future, sustaining and learning from Hawaii’s North Shore oceans, and strengthening communities’ ability to adapt to the effects of climate change. “When I have time, I love backpacking and hiking. When I get into the Ohia forest, I feel like my life is back in balance.” And I am sure, there’s a smile on Terry’s face.
Terry is enjoying time with Club members during one of our Restaurant Weeks
L-R: Rich Proctor, Jim Harrow, Clif Purkiser, Gigi Davidson, and Terry George
Above you can see the joy Rotarians have in Service!
At the Lanai City project, on the left is Rick Towill and on the right is Terry George.