We are saddened by the sudden passing of our friend George M. Cecala, 49, who experienced a heart attack on December 16. We send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his wife, Jennifer, whom he cherished and his daughter, Jenny, who was the joy of his life. George led a full and busy life as a senior Congressional aide, political science professor, community activist and devoted father and husband. Upon learning of his death, so many responded with the same words: “He was such a good man.”
George reached out to the county Republican party in 2020 concerned about the constant rise in property taxes and the burden they placed on Silver Spring residents like himself. Wasn’t there something that could be done? Several years later he took his message to voters with a run for the Maryland House of Delegates to represent Legislative District 18. George called his campaign “Advancing Maryland” and he put his heart and Congressional experience into it by focusing on commonsense issues. He called for the County and State to take steps to make housing more affordable by reducing taxes. He championed the county’s need to be economically competitive, called for parental rights and school excellence, and before anyone else – proposed relaxing taxes for those living on tips and commissions.
Representative Bill Posey (R-FL) paid the following tribute to George, his Chief of Staff and aide for 15 years:
“His nearly two decades of public service on Capitol Hill leave a record of his remarkable and sacrificial service to the American people and particularly those who call Florida’s Space and Treasure Coast home. Whether it is Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Port Canaveral, the beaches, citrus groves or improvements to highways or airports, George had a hand in making it happen. His character was marked with both gentle care and dogged tenacity as George worked tirelessly against what seemed insurmountable odds to secure the safe return of abducted children from a war-torn region of the world to their grieving mothers. He brought this same care and concern to every matter brought before him. To those who worked with George he was always encouraging. When someone was troubled or struggling, George was always there to offer a word of encouragement. George was always attentive to the needs of those around him – the colleague sitting beside him, the visitor who just walked in the office door, the intern looking for that first job on Capitol Hill, or the constituent on the other end of the line calling the office to tell George how to fix Washington. George always went out of his way to serve others – the hallmark of a public servant. He brought this desire to help to his local community, where he ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. George loved his Lord and Savior. He was an active parishioner at St. John the Evangelist where he also volunteered in numerous activities at his daughter's school and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.”
Rest in Peace.
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Ann Guthrie Hingston is a Member of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, its Organization Chair and Head of Legislative District 16 for the Committtee.
