George E. Tubman passed away on February 20th, 2011, at the age of 75, in his native country of Liberia.
George and his family were long-time congregants at MSUMC. After fleeing Liberia in the early 1990s as a political refugee, he and family eventually ended up in Providence, where they joined Mathewson Street UMC. When Liberia returned to a degree of stability in 2007, he returned to Monrovia, where he worked to rebuild the Port Authority for the national government.
George was a strong humanitarian; a man of faith, courage, and fortitude. He was a gentleman and a role model. An example of his humanitarian bearing was his quickness to volunteer for tasks that needed to be done at Mathewson Street, including everything from ushering to assisting in the preparations for communion.
On a much grander scale, when Liberia went through its political and social upheavals in the early 2000s, George took a strong and effective leadership role in organizing two significant humanitarian aid efforts—encouraging and pushing forward manifold efforts in the collection of thousands of pounds of books, food, medical supplies, clothing, and institutional furniture for shipment to Liberia. The shipments were made in large sea containers. To ensure its safe arrival and distribution to several hospitals, clinics, and refugee camps, he flew to Monrovia to personally oversee the first of these two aid efforts.
George was highly respected not only at MSUMC, but also by the regional Liberian community, and the community at large– both in Rhode Island and in Liberia. Few of those who met him in Rhode Islandknew of the many accomplishments in younger life, as he was never one to boast. But let it be known that he was a distinguished student at the University of San Francisco, where he earned his B.A. in 1961; and upon graduation, he entered the MBA program at the highly prestigious University of California, Berkeley–completely his degree in just one year (1962). George’s career path included being the managing director (CEO) of the National Port Authority of Liberia during the 1970s, and the founder and owner of Transget, a West African consulting firm for the transportation industry.
George retired from the world of work in 2009, but was not satisfied to sit in a rocking chair. In the year before his death, he was trying to organize a book drive to bring business, management, and entrepreneurial college textbooks to those wanting to rebuild his home country.
He leaves his loving and devoted wife; Rachel, 4 children, 2 grandchildren, and 3 sisters. Expressions of condolence may be sent to his daughters, Georgene and Simone, and his son, George Jr. at: 59 Joslin, North Providence, RI 02911.