George D. Storrs Jr.

George D. Storrs, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2019. Born on April 23, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was the son of George D. Storrs and Mildred Keegan Storrs. He was raised in Eau Clare, Wisconsin and graduated from Eau Clare Senior High School. Following high school, he entered the US Navy Reserve V-12 College Training Program and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in architectural engineering in 1945. He then earned an Ensigns commission at the Midshipman School at Notre Dame University before continuing his duty at the Navy Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. In 1950, George married the love of his life, Marilyn R. Strum, and they moved to Fort Lauderdale, towing a sailboat loaded with all of their belongings. There, he worked for pioneer architect Robert E. Hansen, and created perspective renderings and scale models for other architects in the area, before eventually opening his own architectural practice in 1954. During his distinguished career, George designed hundreds of private homes in South Florida, Wisconsin, Williamsburg (Virginia), the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. George also designed the first Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport Terminal, many of the original buildings on the Saint Andrews School campus in Boca Raton, several churches, office buildings and condominiums throughout the South Florida area. Additionally, he worked for many years as the Bonnet House Architect, restoring, rebuilding and converting the residence, outbuildings and grounds so that it could open to the public. George was very active in his community. He served as a member of the City of Fort Lauderdale Board of Adjustment, chairman for the Salvation Army Advisory Council, president of his local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, president of the Executive Association of Fort Lauderdale and Commodore of both the Gulfstream Sailing Club and the Lauderdale Yacht Club. He retired from active architectural practice in 2004, and was able to split his time between Port Everglades, where he watched the ships pass through the inlet, and his beloved “cottage” on Long Lake in Sarona, Wisconsin, where he sailed and listened to the loons. His quick wit and gentle nature will be dearly missed. George is survived by his wife (Marilyn), brother (Philip), sons (Mark, Pete, and Bill), daughters-in-law (Gina and Susan) and grandchildren (Sarah, Kristin, Keegan, Andrew, Tucker, and Emma). A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday September 28th, 2019, at 11 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, 401 SE 15th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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