George Huan Yu Yuan moved to Penfield, New York upon retirement when he was 72, and quickly became an active member of the Penfield United Methodist Church. He was a calligrapher with the Genesee Valley Calligraphy Guild, and a volunteer at the Penfield Public Library, where he repaired books and added his calligraphy to the shelf labels. He grew up in Beijing, China in a household with four sisters. He often recalled stories about his grandparents who raised him and the wisdom and love of his grandmother. He attended Yenching University during the Japanese occupation of Beijing, and retained a special association with the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah because all the students were encouraged to join the choir and sing it to give them a diversion from the occupation.
George came to the United States in 1939 to attend New York University, where he received his MBA. The war years prevented his return to China, but led to his meeting Ruby on a blind date, and marrying her just 4 months later, in 1942. He was a member of the Rho Psi Fraternity, which created a rich social circle of Chinese professionals in NYC that he and Ruby helped lead. George started Restart Electronics in 1971 after many years working in the electronic parts business. George appreciated books, fine art, Chinese opera and classical music. He and Ruby loved road trips and travel abroad; they were collectors and enjoyed browsing flea markets and attending antique shows. Visitors to their home often marveled at their collections and extensive library.
On August 31, 2018 George celebrated his 100th birthday. The party included friends and relatives from far and near, but he was especially honored by the attendance of nieces and nephews and their children who traveled to Rochester from China for the occasion. One year later, George died on Christmas Day, 2019, at the age of 101.
George is survived by his daughters Barbara Gerber (Don), Patricia Zuroski, and Georgia Yuan (Larry Meinert), grandchildren John, Jeff, Julie, Eugenia, Kathryn, Emma, Kimberley, and James, and great-grandchildren Peter, Nathan, William, Christopher, Grayson, Ruby, Felicity, and Henry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Jong Yuan, and his son-in-law, Gregory Zuroski.
A funeral service will be held Monday, January 6, 2020 11AM at the Fairport Baptist Homes. Memorial gifts may be sent in honor of George HY Yuan to the Penfield Public Library, 1985 Baird Road, Penfield, NY 14526.