TORRINGTON – On March 25, 2024, our beloved, George F. Molitor Jr., born Sept. 17, 1937, passed away peacefully after a heroic battle with cancer.
George was a proud graduate of Oliver Wolcott Technical School, where he earned top honors in the carpentry program. It was then that his long and successful career, spanning more than 50 years, began. Upon graduating, George started working for a local company, Residential Builders, and thereafter, journeyed into the commercial construction industry, working for O&G Industries, and honing his skills as a construction superintendent, and then general construction superintendent.
He then moved forward as a senior general construction superintendent and was able to share his talents with other companies, such as Skanska USA, Fluor Daniel Co., ADP Marshall, Gilbane Building Co., Perini Building Co., and more.
He possessed such a strong drive, enthusiasm, and dedication to his profession and played an integral role in the construction of several prominent buildings and structures throughout the U.S. and elsewhere, which include Freedom Tower (New York), the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo (fka Tappan Zee) Bridge (New York), the Orange County Performing Arts Center (California), Planet Hollywood (Nevada), Intel (Arizona), the Ritz Carlton (Grand Cayman), the Stamford Transportation Center and Commercial Plaza (Connecticut), and so, so many more.
He held steadfast to the motto, “Plan your work, and work your plan,” and approached all things in life applying that belief. For George, his work was not just a “job” – it was an absolute calling.
In 2017, the ‘Ole Concrete Pusher’ (as he called himself) semi-retired and was able to spend time enjoying his cabin in the Arizona mountains, his ATV, and his family, especially his granddaughters, both of whom he was so very proud.
He also started a consulting business, and devoted time to his hobbies that included his model cranes, solving complex calculus and trigonometry equations (yes, you read that correctly), and reading books about the construction of various buildings throughout the world (of course!).
George will be fondly remembered for his immense passion for anything and everything structural, his expertise in all that is concrete, his fascination with cranes, his favorite song, “Hello Walls,” his devotion to McDonald’s coffee, and most of all, his kind heart and his love for his family, his friends, and his dog, Cooper.
We will all miss you dearly, George. Wear your hard hat with honor, and may you rest well in the arms of the angels.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Molitor; children, Kevin (Kelly) Molitor, and Lisa (Scott) Matzko; stepchildren, Christopher (Shelly Nichols) Palazzini, and Danielle Palazzini; granddaughters, Chelsea (Adrian Alexis Ruiz) Matzko, and Sydney Matzko; sister, Gaile (Jim) Tino, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, George Molitor Sr. and Janet Molitor; his sister, Marlene Bagnaschi; and his brother, Jerry Molitor.
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful staff at Smilow Cancer Center (Torrington); to Litchfield Home Health nurse, Kara; to the amazing and compassionate hospice staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; and to the many friends who shared their kindness, support, and prayers.
Calling hours for George will be at Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington, on April 2, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral service will take place at Cook Funeral Home on April 3, 2024, at 11 a.m., followed by a burial service at Hillside Cemetery for family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the OWTS scholarship fund and/or to the Ronald McDonald House charities. cookfuneralhomect.com.
