Birth date: Aug 26, 1959 Death date: Aug 12, 2021
The friendliest most fun man in the world left us on August 12, 2021. George Joseph Rolfes was born August 26, 1959, the third son of the four children of Laverne Rolfes and Rose Desio. From the start, George was talented and fu Read Obituary
I net George while at SMU...both from Chicago...me the North Shore and George from the North Side...hung out at the pool...two super tan guys then...always friendly and kind...smiling. same flights home to O'Hare....saw him at Neiman Marcus....sorry this is late...he just came into my mind....don't forget him....God bless..
George. I always tell stories about George when I am heading to Dallas. What a good man. I met George while attending SMU. We became fraternity brothers in Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the rest is history. A history of kindness and respect. George was the most kind sensitive person I ever met. With all the background noise of college hearing his voice and his immediate presence brought everything into perspective. He was comforting, a great conversationalist and moreover a wonderful listener. He was generous. I recall meeting up at an SMU Football weekend probably in 2013 at a friends house in Dallas. George was at it again….he pulled out a large card board box and announced “party favors” for all of us. It tickled me to death when he began pulling out trays of fine leather wallets and fashionable women’s cocktail purses! Needless to say the girls went wild and I went for a leather wallet. I don’t recall the story behind his leather goods but I remember his beaming smile as he said in his warm inviting delivery instructing all of us to take something we liked. It was true George Rolfes! We spent the rest of the evening eating dinner and swapping stories. George was a friend. George was kind. I am proud to say he was my friend. He will be missed. Phi Alpha brother George….
George was so animated when he would tell a story. It could be even the smallest of things but he could make it into.an epic, gripping affair, with eyes beaming at you, hands gesturing, and his very Chicago voice. He was sharp, funny and a true original. I am glad I had the pleasure of knowing him over many years. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.
-Jeff Downing
Dear Rolfes Family
I am so sorry for your loss. George was so fun to pal around with when we were kids on North Shore. Have such great memories, especially of warm summer days with endless kickball games and other adventures. George was so kind and funny. I still can see his smile. My family remembers George, your parents and all of you so fondly. So glad we got together one last time several years ago to share lunch and memories with all of you, George and your Mom. May all your fond memories give you comfort at this sad time and may George’s memory be for a blessing. We mourn with all of you and will pray for George and your family.
With my deepest sympathies, Diane Quinlan Fleming
I’m so sorry to hear of Georgie’s passing. I’ve known Georgie since 1994 when we were introduced at Sharky’s. Georgie was a great guy- so much trivia, jokes, one liners, and happiness was shared with Georgie. He accepted all and always had a smile on his face. He will be missed!
I met George through my sister Margaret in the early 80’s. I was instantly intrigued by George’s wit and uniqueness. We became very close friends very quickly and then roommates.
One memory stands out among the others. I was always after George to do a “road trip” and one day I convinced him to do a trip to South Padre Island. We toured all the small border towns like Pharr and Weslaco. We stopped one morning in Pharr for breakfast. It was a small quaint little restaurant, the kind where you can see the chef through a small opening behind the counter. The person waiting on us didn’t speak English so we were forced to do some hand gestures to simulate flipping an egg over easy. The person nodded and then immediately you could hear the chef whisking the eggs….scrambled it was.
We made our way to South Padre Island and had a great time enjoying the sun and sand. One night we took my car out on the beach and cut some doughnuts. We had a few libations and then woke up in the car the next morning on the edge of the beach.
George was one of my oldest and dearest friends. He was a friend to our entire family and the brother I never had.
Rest In Peace Jorge.
George was one of the greatest people I have ever met. He had all these ‘isms that were so unusual to me when I was as first getting to know him. I still say some of his words and expressions to this day. He was always smiling, and had the grooviest, cheeky sense of humour and a unique way of looking at the world and interpreting its complexities and simplifying them. I have never met another like him , and never will. He was just the loveliest guy . You’re outta here mate, up the hill ! Minga it’s just not that copacetic now :-( maybe he’s off watching the submarine races or something?
Hearing of George’s untimely passing is sad even though I hadn’t seen him for over 50 years. I went to grammar and high school with his oldest brother Bob. I lived a half a block away from the Rolfes family and spent a lot of time at their house where George was always curious about the older guys were up to. My condolences to all George’s family and loved ones.
Mike Maggio
