Dr. George Edward Haborak, age 84, of Richmond Hill, Georgia, passed away at home on October 26, 2020 surrounded by loving family. He was predeceased by his parents, George A. and Helen, of Connecticut. He is survived by his precious wife of 55 years, Cecilia, children, Chris (Amy) Haborak, Kevin (Nikki) Haborak, and Dana (Patrick) Pattison, grandchildren Jackson, Nate, Cameron, Mason, Amalia, Adalyn, Joey, and Jordan, his brother Robert (Peg) Haborak, and many nieces and nephews.

Husband, father, grandfather, papa, poppi, best friend, scholar, author, speaker, Rotarian, and all-around great human being are words that have been used to describe George. George had a generous spirit and he never met a stranger. He was always ready to share a story or a joke with a friend, old or new. He brought much happiness to the world with his humor and his optimism. He saw the best in people. George was not a person who just used words to encourage and inspire others, but one who led by example. He did not turn away from those in need; instead he reached out to help ease their burdens. His wisdom shone through his teachings, whether it be life lessons to his grown children, tutoring students in math, or teaching Cub Scouts to change a tire on a bicycle.

George enjoyed fishing, golfing, and traveling. George gained an affinity for adventure from his wife Ceci with whom he navigated life and traveled to all seven continents. Together they weathered many storms and always found the rainbows. They bicycled through many countries, climbed the Sydney Bridge in Australia, rode elephants in Africa, and hiked glaciers in Antarctica and New Zealand. On one special trip to the Holy Land, George was re-baptized in the Jordan River. Even with all of the exotic places George travelled, his favorite fishing rivers and golf courses were in the low country and coastal empire where he could spend time with family and friends.

George was a man of great faith. He was born and raised in Connecticut and after graduating high school, George joined the Jesuit order. During his time with the Jesuits, he graduated with his bachelor's degree from Boston College and did graduate work at Wayne State University (Detroit) before earning his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Catholic University of America. George's inner voice led him to an alternate path before he took his final vows to become a clergyman, and he instead became an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. It was during his time in Annapolis that he met the love of his life, Ceci. A few years after they were married, George accepted a position at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. He served the college as a professor, department chair, dean, and vice-president of student affairs. George retired from C of C after 30 years of service. George was a member of the Rotary Club in Charleston and was also in the Richmond Hill Rotary Club after moving to Georgia to be closer to family. As a Rotarian, he engaged in projects promoting international exchange of students and Rotarians, providing hearing aids to low income people, and delivering clean drinking water to areas in underdeveloped countries. George was honored with the Rotarian of the Year award in 2020.

George's most current Rotarian project is to fund the building of a baseball field for children with special needs for The Miracle League. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the fund via

Venmo: @Georges-Field or check to George Haborak Memorial Fund, c/o Richmond Hill Rotary, PO Box

2323, Richmond Hill, GA 31324.

A viewing will be held on Friday, November 6, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Richmond Hill Funeral Home, 8901

Ford Ave, Richmond Hill and a memorial mass will be held on Saturday, November 7, 11:00am, St

Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 11500 Middleground Rd, Savannah. CDC and government guidelines will apply regarding COVID-19.

George would like to be remembered as a man who served God by serving others.

" Every Child Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball"

The Miracle League provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their abilities. In Miracle League games, a buddy system is used where the players are assisted by typically-developing peers, thereby building a bond between the children. It is educational for the entire community, not to mention a lot of fun for the kids! More information can be found at The Miracle League website – https://www.miracleleague.com

A Miracle League facility meets the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families. George's passion was to build a Miracle League facility in Richmond Hill. The YMCA of Richmond Hill is still working on the land donation, and together with YMCA and the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill, we are working on raising the funds to build the facility.

The YMCA informed us that George will receive a special honor for his efforts by naming The Miracle League facility after him when it is built. We are thankful for this acknowledgement of his hard work and dedication to serving others. It has a special meaning for our family because George received his inspiration for this project from my brother Tony who was a child with special needs. We are truly honored and appreciate this recognition of George's efforts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Miracle League via Venmo: @Georges-Field or a check to George Haborak Memorial Fund, ℅ Richmond Hill Rotary, PO Box 2323, Richmond Hill, GA 31324.