Lasting Memories

George Robert Concannon
1919-Nov. 16, 2006
Menlo Park, California

George Robert Concannon of Menlo Park, a former Woodside resident, died Nov. 16. He was 87.

Mr. Concannon was born in Berkeley and graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Business School. During World War II, he served as one of the youngest lieutenant commanders in the U.S. Navy, seeing action in both the North Atlantic and South Pacific.

After the war, he worked for Marchant Calculators, then became president of Concannon Vineyard of Livermore, founded by his grandfather, James Concannon, in 1883. Mr. Concannon's next business venture was Concannon & Co., which focused on commercial real estate in San Francisco. He also worked for Kaiser Industries, focusing on a housing development on Oahu, Hawaii.

After retiring, Mr. Concannon took up painting and was listed in "Who's Who in the Art World." He was a competitive swimmer, competing at the masters'level internationally well into his 80s. He swam up to the end of his life, say family members. He also spent many hours volunteering in the chaplain service at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto.

Mr. Concannon was married twice. His first marriage was to Martha Wood. His second wife was Betty Wing Jr., a radio and television personality in the San Francisco Bay area.

He is survived by his children: Elisabeth Concannon of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Richard Concannon of Oakland, Lt. Col. Charles Concannon of Papillion, Nebraska, Cheryl Concannon of Sun Valley, Idaho, Kate Castle of Oakland, Bob Concannon of San Francisco, and Jim Concannon of Darien, Connecticut; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.