George Lindsay Lefferts

SAN DIEGO — A “Renaissance Man” is described a person who has wide interests and is expert in several areas. George Lindsay Lefferts was a true Renaissance Man. Born in Jersey City, NJ on January 14th 1932, George grew up as a literal choir boy at Grace Church in New York City. After relocating to Tucson, Arizona, he attended high school and junior college where he stood out in academics, baseball, basketball, boxing and football. Later in life, George was anything but a figurative “choir boy” dominating as a defensive tackle in football playing for the University of Idaho where he earned an undergraduate degree and Master’s Degree while meriting a spot in the NFL being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. While at Idaho, George met Joann Smith, the love of his life, and they were married in 1955. Honored

January 14, 1932 - November 21, 2022 as a member of the Blue Key Honor Society, George also served as a policeman in Moscow, Idaho while in graduate school. Then after a short stint with the Rams, he joined Marine Corp Officer Training school in Quantico, Virginia and later at Camp Pendleton where he led the Marine Corp football team as an All-sea Tackle to a National Services Football Championship. After coaching college football for several years in the San Diego area, he joined

The Equitable in 1958 to begin a lifelong career in financial services. “Big George”, as he was called later in life, worked up the ranks at Equitable becoming a national leading District Manager in San Diego and in 1967 he was appointed as an Agency Manager in Seattle while earning the professional designations of CLU and CHFC. His career would take him to Denver, Portland and Chicago, but in the early 80’s he would return to the town he loved, San Diego, for the rest of his life.

George was an avid reader and writer, and he loved the arts. Naturally, he was a sports enthusiast with particular interest in the Chargers, Padres and his kids’ alma mater, the Oregon State Beavers. George was also a member of the Del Mar Turf Club for many decades. In retirement,

George returned to his roots, serving as the President of the Marine Corp Recruiting Depot (MCRD) Command Museum while presiding over several MCRD Graduations. George is proudly memorialized with a plaque on Mount Soledad National Veteran’s Memorial.

George is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joann Smith Lefferts. He is also survived by his son John (Dianne) Lefferts, and daughter Carolyn (Dan) Tomayko. George was adored by his 5 grandchildren, Michael (Elizabeth) and Katie Tomayko and Rachel, Marshall and Karen Lefferts along with one great grandson, Archer Tomayko. Donations can be made to the MCRD Command Museum in Honor/memory of George Lefferts https://www. mcrdmuseum.org/give