George Dudley Hester

George D. Hester passed away at age 72 at his home near West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday November 20, 2022. He was born in Lima, Peru, the first son to George W. Hester and Diana Hester where his father, a former US Air Force squadron commander, was the Pan American Airways airport manager. The family returned to the US and George was raised in Florham Park, New Jersey. While attending Hanover Park High School in New Jersey he played football and performed as the bass guitarist of a local rock band before going on to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Ithaca College in New York. Returning to New Jersey he began his career in finance at Merrill-Lynch, Inc. headquarters on Wall Street in New York City where he quickly rose to become a Vice President in the Municipal Bonds Department. He retired on disability resulting from a severe automobile accident in the 1980s. Throughout his life he persevered through his long-term accident related injuries until he contracted COVID that combined with those injuries and caused his passing. George moved to West Palm Beach in the later part of his life where he was near the beach and ocean, and where his ashes were spread at sea. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Diana Hester, and his sister, police Lieutenant Laurel Hester. He is survived by his family including his brother, James Hester and his wife Jamie; his sister Lynda Hester- D’Orio and her husband Gary D’Orio; and, his nephew Ian Hester and his wife Angeline Focht.

George generously supported youth charities benefiting young boys and girls throughout in his life such as Scouts, BSA. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in his memory to Scouts, BSA or any other youth group you admire.