Obituary of George T. Behn

George T. Behn, Sr., 90, of Garnerville, NY, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully at home on October 26, 2023. He was born in 1933 to Regis (O’Keefe) and George H. Behn, and was a life-long resident of Garnerville, having lived his entire life in the house his parents purchased in 1926.

George graduated from Haverstraw High School in 1953, where he met his wife of 65 years, Brigida Spicci. They married in 1958 after he finished his duty with the US Navy, where he served as a SeaBee assigned to the construction of the base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He worked in construction for 40 years and was a Master Carpenter with Carpenter’s Union Local 964 until his retirement in 1995. He played semi-pro baseball with the Holy Name Society as a young man, and was also an avid hunter and fisherman, who liked to say he was a Conservationist before Environmentalists existed. In retirement, he kept himself busy with household projects as well as being an expert gardener.

In addition to his wife, Brigida, George is survived by his six children, Laura (Robert) Sappio of Allendale, NJ, Mary (Richard) Selkow of Lake George, Joan (Michael) Caruso of Mahopac, George, Jr. (Fran) of Garnerville, Helen Behn of South Lake Tahoe, CA, Nancy (Jeff) Conklin of Stony Point; his 11 grandchildren: George Behn, III, Jeffrey (Meaghan) Conklin, Nicholas (Alice Plante) Conklin, LT Michael Sappio, USN, Alex (Mike Miller) Behn, Benjamin (Kelly O’Connor) Sappio, Emily, née Behn, (Vincent) Martorelli, Thomas Caruso, Bodin Schwartz, Catherine Behn, Gunnar Schwartz; and his brand new great-granddaughter Ella Francesca Martorelli.

Visitation will be held Monday, October 30 and Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 5-8 pm, at T.J. McGowan & Sons, 71 North Central Highway, Garnerville, NY. In lieu of flowers, please support George’s grandson’s New York City Marathon Tunnel to Towers fundraiser: dogood.t2t.org/fundraiser/4449628