By Martha Sippel | Fellow
George Hoerter, STC Fellow and long-time member of STC, the Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC), and the AccessAbility SIG passed away on 12 April after a short illness. George meant so much to so many people throughout his STC career, which began in 1975.
George was never “just a member.” He began serving the Society in 1984 when he was elected vice president of RMC. From 1984 to 1988, he fulfilled the roles of RMC vice president, president (for two consecutive years), and past president. George was the RMC treasurer from 1991 to 1997 and also served the chapter as a competition judge, conference speaker, membership manager, and scholarship manager.
On the international level, George was elected and served as Society treasurer from 1987 to 1991, and was appointed Society assistant treasurer from 1991 to 1995. He was a conference finance manager; a member of the compensation policy, finance, transformation finance, and conference advisory committees; and co-manager of the Chapter and Regional Conference Committee. George attended 16 annual conferences, presented 5 times, and moderated 5 sessions. Read more about George’s accomplishments at www.stcrmc.org/documents/open/about-fellowsgeorgehoerter.
The RMC established the “George E. Hoerter Professional Development/Award/Scholarship” in 1990 in recognition of his contribution to the chapter and his international service as Society treasurer. For more than two decades, the RMC was pleased to be able to provide scholarship funds to many undergraduates and graduates to help them get started in technical communication or ancillary fields.
George retired after 37 years working as technical communicator manager, publications and services, for Martin Marietta Astronautics Group.
George’s consistent encouragement and expectation of excellence forced many RMC members to stretch ourselves and grow professionally. For over 30 years, many past and present RMC members owe thanks to George for his excellent stewardship of the chapter’s finances, his quiet presence at the door greeting people and taking the time to connect them with a mentor or volunteer position, and his mentoring and care of us as we launched our careers. He is greatly loved and will be sorely missed.
George’s family has posted a memorial page where you can leave stories, documents, or pictures of George. Please share any memories you have at www.archdenmort.org/sitemaker/sites/ARCHDI1/obit.cgi?page=stories&user_id=970658.
