George C. Petermann, Sr, beloved husband of Rosalie Deutsch Petermann, of Heritage Village, Southbury, flew this earth on February 7.

A native and lover of all things New York, George was born in The Bronx on March 30, 1934, to William and Harriet West Peterman. He is survived by three terrific, loving siblings: William (“Bud,” predeceased by Katherine), Kathryn (“Kitty,” predeceased by John), and Charles (“Charlie,” married to Janet), who have all relocated to the warmer climes of North Carolina and Florida. He was predeceased by two brothers: Richard (“Dickie”), who passed away in Thailand in 2019, and William West, of New York City. George was a very patriotic man who served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War, first as a tin can sailor on the USS Wedderburn. He later had the good fortune to have spent time onboard the USS Ticonderoga with his brother Bud, with whom he shared many adventures around the world. It was always a gas to hear the siblings entertain each other with tales of The Bronx and to hear the brothers jokingly “play the dozens.” Humor and wit run deep in this gang.

Married for 62 years (wow!), George and Rosalie moved with their young family to Newtown, Conn., in 1964, where they lived for a number of years. A devout Catholic, he has been a member of St Rose Church for many years and previously sat on various committees in service to his community of faith. He was a very active member of the Newtown community, including serving as an officer and coach for Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, and other sports and community organizations. The Big G was an avid sports fan, loving his Yankees, Giants, and Knicks, but he best loved watching his kids and grandkids play ball. He spent many a cold early morning driving his sons to the Gunnery School or to other very cold places early, late, and far afield to youth hockey games. He would often be there to cheer on his kids, grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews, and no one cheered louder than he. His ringing whistle could be heard above any other parent in the stands.

The Big G was also a lover of jazz and the sounds of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Horace Silver, and many others, including his favorite sax player, his son Chris, often filled the house. He was a member of the Hartford Jazz Society and was an avid fan of live music throughout his life.

George was a longtime member of the greater New Milford community as owner and real estate broker for Homes Unlimited. He later was active as a broker for Coldwell Banker in New Milford, and managed numerous properties throughout Litchfield, Fairfield, and Waterbury counties. George was very proud of his involvement in the Rotary Club and its various causes in service to the local community and charitable acts around the world, and was very active in fundraising efforts to help fund the numerous good services that Rotary International provides. You could often find George frying dough or manning the register at the New Milford Village Fair Days, or selling rubber ducks for the Rotary’s annual Memorial Day Rubber Duck Race to help raise funds for their good works.

But what he loved most was his family. He is also survived by his five children: Theresa “Terry” Scalora and her husband, Victor, George Peterman and his wife, Julia, Lisa Keiffer, Christopher Peterman, and Nancy Coviello and her husband, Peter; his nine grandchildren: Simon Censabella, Alyssa Scalora and her husband, Steven, Hanna Peterman, Nicole Scalora and fiancé, Guillermo Rojas, Haley Knepple and her husband, John, Jamie Mahler and wife, Brianna, Jessica Peterman, Jacob Coviello, and Matthew Coviello; his great-granddaughter Sophia Scalora; and a great-grandson due very soon. Poppy would light up in their presence, and even the pains of aging would disappear when sharing a meal, some music, gabbing, or reading to little Sophia. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Thank you to Gerard Lamoureux (Jed), who cared for George with kindness and friendship at the end of his journey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown on Saturday, February 20, at 11 am. Due to the current pandemic concerns, the ceremony will be for immediate family only. The service will be streamed; a link will be added later to access the ceremony online. In lieu of flowers, the family asks a memorial donation be made in honor of George to St Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, or to a charity of your choice.

He will be missed by many, but his time on this earth was put to good use in service to his family, his community, and God. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7)

The Carpino Funeral Home of Southbury has been entrusted with the arrangements. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit carpinocares.com.