George
Reinfried 1932-2010
As a relative
youngster in the woodcarving world, I have witnessed the passing of many older
woodcarvers. Each has been special in
his or her own way, and I have felt the usual feelings one does when a mentor,
friend or colleague leaves this world but the recent passing of George
Reinfried, 78, of Lancaster
Pennsylvania, has had a profound effect, not only on me but on the woodcarving
world at large. For those of us lucky enough to have known George, there are no
further words needed. He was a humble
man who probably would have preferred not to have any fuss made about him but
for those of you who never had the pleasure of meeting George, allow me a
moment. I know George will forgive
me.
George Reinfried
was a simple man, leading a quiet life.
He was born and died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
He was married to his wife Ann for 29 years. Together, they raised 8 children,
had 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
He was a printer for the National Cash Register Company for 25 years and
was an avid hunter, fisherman, camper and golfer. He was a man of faith and a
member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Lancaster. He found no greater way to spend his
retirement than to be in the company of his beloved family. These things alone
would have been a great legacy for the average man. But George was not your
average man. George was a woodcarver.
George had never
planned to be a woodcarver but the day that George met Jack Miller of the
Lancaster Woodcarving Club at a woodcarving show, the direction that George’s
life would take changed dramatically. What began as a hobby to pass the time in
his retirement years soon became a passion to promote woodcarving in his corner
of the world. Jack, already an accomplished carver, invited George to start
carving with him in the evenings and George took him up on his offer. Georges’
first carving was a labor of love, a cane with his pointer Katie on it, his
beloved dog who had just passed away. George continued on his personal carving
journey in his basement workshop and could often be found on nicer days,
carving out on the patio. He graced his
family with many a wonderfully carved gift. George also found that he enjoyed
carving birds, with each and every little feather burned into the wood. George
eventually joined the Lancaster Woodcarving Club. Along the way, he also became
a member of many other woodcarving groups, the York Carving Club, the American
National Cane Club and
a small group of guys that would get together each week in
Ted McClains garage. they
kept the number to 7 members and called themselves the
WoodBee Carvers. The story could end here but the best is yet to be. As George got deeper into woodcarving, he and
his wife, Ann began accompanying Jack Miller, traveling in their RV to other
carving events throughout the country. After traveling to a large woodcarving
roundup in Evart, Michigan
a few times, where free carving instruction was being offered, George had an
idea. “Why don't we have anything like this on the east coast? Lets give it a
try.” Sandy Holder of the
Michigan Roundup reassured, “If you have it, they will come.” With the support
of his wife, Ann and Jack Miller, he
contacted family friends Al and Cindy Waiter who just happened to be the owners
of a large camp ground in Honesdale PA, high up in the Pocono
mountains. There was no
stopping George. He just kept talking about it and dreaming his dream. In 2003,
George and Jack began contacting
talented carving instructors around the country. Ann contacted lots of carving
clubs to get the word out. The Northeast Woodcarvers roundup, which became
known as the NEWR was underway. As a result of the first NEWR, a caving club
was formed at Cherry ridge. Bob Muller
and the Cherry Ridge Woodcarving Club got involved in this endeavor and things just took
off. George, Ann, Jack Miller and the Cherry Ridge Carvers
have since been organizing this annual event.
The NEWR now attracts
approximately 300 woodcarvers from all over the east coast, from Canada
to Florida. Its premise being that it was a place for
woodcarvers to get free excellent instruction from skilled instructors and
while it excelled in its intended goal, I find the NEWRs greatest achievement
was the camaraderie among woodcarvers that it has fostered. There was “something for everyone” at the
NEWR, carving contests, pot luck suppers, non-carving classes, beginner classes
and classes for children as young as 14, ice cream socials, trips into
Honesdale, Pa for Music in the Park, sing-alongs and funny presentations by the
instructors. George was the leader of a merry bunch of misfits and cut-ups, who
made the NEWR special. What I personally
will always remember was the twinkle in his eyes when he laughed. It was contagious. George set the tone for
the NEWR and down played any of the work involved with organizing it. The NEWR
was playtime for George, often sneaking into town to partake in huge bowls of
ice cream with dear friends. If he had one fault, it was said that George could
not talk and carve at the same time and woe-be-gone to the carvers who sat in a
class that George also took. There would be much more laughing than carving
going on.
George also had a
more serious side as a woodcarving promoter on a national level and became a
personal mentor of mine as he playfully cajoled me into becoming a NEWR
instructor. I was already an instructor for the Parks Dept in New
York City but George did not understand that teaching
in a city of 9 million people was immensely less intimidating than joining the
ranks of his esteemed carving instructors at NEWR. It took him a few years and he never let up
on me, never let me doubt myself as he put his gentle hand on my back and
pushed. That’s who George was, a playful
man with a big heart, who encouraged children and adults to try their hand at
carving, much as Jack Miller had once done for him. He even helped his wife
start carving.
The Lancaster Woodcarving Club awarded
George their highest
honor, the John Harrington Award, not just for carving but
for participating in all
club activities. Jay Herr and George started beginner
carving in the Park and it had
been held each fall in Lancaster.
He and Ann were contacted by a woman that taught home school and asked if it
would be possible for their club to teach 14 students for 10 weeks, 3 hours a
week. Of course George said no problem, and in turn George and Ann approached
the Lancaster Woodcarving Club members and had many willing to participate, and
now for the last 6 years the club has been teaching students age 14 - 18.
George also started inviting guest carvers, Floyd
Rhadigan, Mike Bloomquist, and Don
Dearolf for seminars at the Lancaster Woodcarving club, George handled all
details.
Two years ago, George thought it would be great to
have carving seminars held in a beautiful building in the Lancaster
County Park,
with his wife, Ann cooking breakfast and lunch. Forty carvers attended. The
instructors were Pete LeClair, Don Dearolf, Jan Oegema and Bob Statlander.
Georges’ story
could end here, but it doesn’t. His true
legacy is yet to be seen as George has had a direct hand in beginning and
improving the carving careers of many a talented woodcarver. Ann and Jack
Miller will, no doubt, continue to be driving forces behind the dream that
George once envisioned. There will be
more carving and more laughing as the NEWR has now become bigger than George,
Ann and Jack could have foreseen. It has taken on a life of its own. This year
will be a tough one for the NEWR as the pain of losing George will be a fresh
wound on the hearts of many. Among the
din of all the carvers talking and laughing and the instructors teaching, there
will be an unplanned moment of silence when I will swear I can hear Georges mischievous
laugh float through the air. I will choke back a sob and I will smile. Thank You George Reinfried! Thank You for all
you’ve done for the woodcarving world but more importantly, thank you for who
you were, a humble giant. George will be
looking down on us from that golden workbench which is magically always clean,
where the tools are impossibly always sharp, the wood is wonderfully sweet and
carvings actually get finished in a timely manner. He will still be laughing and smiling. He
will still be George, my friend.
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