ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 8, 2025) - The MGA Caddie Scholarship Fund mourns the passing of MGACSF Emeritus Board Member, George Tompkins. George was involved with the Fund for many years, and continued to sponsor the Annual CSF Pro-Am through 2024.
It is hard to believe there is a life without George N. Tompkins, Jr., Dad, Grampy, GNT, in it. On April 2, we said goodbye to the larger-than-life man who impacted so many lives in his 94 years. In his final days, he said he wanted to go home, which he explained was “wherever your mother is”. George and Ruth are together at home now.
George was born and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada with his parents, George Sr. and Myra, brothers Chuck, John, Bobby, and sister Mary. Growing up in Canada, naturally, he played hockey, which he told everyone was the reason his left leg didn’t work too well in the end. “I played left wing, too many hits to that side”. He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his dad encouraged him to go to law school instead, saying, “You’ll never get out of the minors”.
An outstanding student at Notre Dame Law School and graduate of the class of 1956, he remained a supporter and avid ND fan his entire life. George and Ruth had season tickets to football games and traveled to South Bend annually for many years, well into their 80s. They particularly loved the law school parties before the games!
For nearly six decades, George practiced aviation law and represented the interest of airlines in the US and internationally. As a leader in aviation law, he spearheaded many high-profile cases, arguing appeals in state and federal courts throughout the United States and representing airlines and their insurers in over 60 major air disasters throughout the world. He twice argued before the United States Supreme Court on aviation law matters, losing the first time and winning the second time.
George was appointed as one of the drafters of the Montreal Convention 1999, which was written to modernize the Warsaw Convention of 1929. There were many high-profile cases in his years, and you can even catch him on TV now and again in shows about airplane disasters. He was the lead lawyer defending Air Florida in the case for the 1982 crash into 14th Street Bridge and Potomac River in DC. He also represented New Zealand in the America’s Cup lawsuit in 1989.
George was passionate about the law and shared his love of it as an adjunct professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands and in 2001, was named to the board of the International Institute of Air and Space Law. George dedicated significant time to teaching aviation law and international aviation liability systems in China. He had a profound impact on the legal and aviation communities in China and will be honored there next week.
As a past president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, George first attended and then hosted several conferences around the world where learning was the focus, not just about the law but also about the places they visited. George and Ruth made many dear friends through the Academy and enjoyed their exotic travels around the world. Their favorite conference to host was back in their native country, Canada.
Family was everything to George and what a legacy he built with Ruth. He was Dad to his seven children, George (and Laura), Ernie, Billy (and Suzzanne deceased), Timmy (and Maureen), Liz (and Kevin), Brian, and Genevieve (and Skip). His favorite title was Grampy to his 16 grandchildren, Caraline, Jayne, Julia, Annie, Brian, Jack, Molly, Nonie, Teague, Patrick, Carter, Bridget, Nicholas, Noah, Nathan, Timothy, and 8 and a half great grandchildren, Lennon, Finn, Beau, Beya, Myra, Maxine, James, Lucy, and a soon to be little girl. George and Ruth raised their children in Chappaqua, New York, with some of the best neighbors ever. George is “favorite uncle” to many nieces and nephews around the world.
Summer days were enjoyed at Knollwood Country Club, where lifelong friendships were built and a couple of marriages were formed, and later at Winged Foot Golf Club. Winter vacations for the family were spent in Port St. Lucie, Florida and later at Loblolly in Hobe Sound. These warm and sunny places hold a special place in our family’s hearts. Days were filled with golf, swimming, tennis, and lots of parties and shenanigans.
Cheers to GNT Jr. and to a life well lived. See you soon on the golf course, keep your head down and swing through.
George’s life will be celebrated in a Mass on April 5, 2025, at 9:30am at St. Vincent Martyr Catholic Church in Madison, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Dad’s passionate causes, the MGA Caddie Scholarship Fund at https://caddiescholarship.org/mgacsf-donate or the Notre Dame Law School general fund at https://giveto.nd.edu/campaigns/49024/donations/new
