George Richardson, Jr.

Richardson, Judge George, Jr., beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away July 31, 2009, at home with his family. Born December 31, 1918 in Rydal, Pennsylvania, Judge Richardson was the only child of George Richardson, Sr. and Rachel Hayes Richardson who emigrated from Northern Ireland in the early 1900s and entered the United States at Ellis Island. Judge Richardson moved to Wilton Manors in 1936, when his parents purchased 40 acres and built the Richardson Golf Course. Over the years, the family sold 35 acres of the property but kept five acres for their family home, where he lived for 66 years. He met his late wife Helen at the county courthouse where she worked. He courted her by secretly bringing in roses in a brown paper bag and putting them on her desk while she was away. They loved to entertain in their home and often hosted fundraisers and events. They wanted to see the land preserved, so in 2002, they sold the property to the City of Wilton Manors and Broward County to be dedicated as a park. On July 23, 2009, he saw the culmination of that dream when he was honored at the opening of the Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve Manor Home. He served three an...[more]

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half years in the United States Army in the South Pacific where he obtained the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was featured in Stars and Stripes for being the first serviceman to step foot on the Pacific Island of Espiritu Santo. Judge Richardson attended the University of Miami School of Law and was admitted to practice in 1951. He was the President and Council Member of the Wilton Manors City Council, Wilton Manors City Attorney (twice), the Chairman of the Wilton Manors Civil Service Board, a member of the Broward County Charter Review Commission and Broward County Planning Council, a Board Member and Past President of Insight for the Blind, and sixteen years as a Broward County Circuit and County Judge. He was a fifty-year member of the Florida Bar. He and his wife were long-time members of First Presbyterian Church. He served as a commodore of the Lauderdale Yacht Club and was a member of the Restless Weasels. Judge Richardson loved to play and watch golf, and spend time with his grandchildren. He is survived by three children, Kamie (Frank) Gonzalez, George (Elisabeth) Richardson III and, Gex F. (Jamie) Richardson; grandchildren: Kevin, Taylor, Fletcher, Sandra, T.J., Connor, Ford, Ali, and Colton, as well as long time friends and in-laws, Betty and Gex Williams. He was predeceased in 2006 by his wife of fifty years, Helen Richardson, and by a grandson, Dylan. The memorial will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, August 8th at 10:30 a.m. with a reception immediately following at the Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve in Wilton Manors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Judge Richardson's name to Insight for the Blind, 1401 NE 4th Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304 telephone (954) 522-5057, Fax: (954) 522-2966, info@insightftb.org.http://videos.lifetributes.com/82501