George Martell Egan

George Martell Egan of Woonsocket, Rhode Island passed away on December 26th, 2024, at age 85. Beloved brother of Joanne E. Shea, Kensington, Maryland, Andrea E. Didden and her husband Albert J. Didden, Kensington, Maryland, Reverend Thomas F Egan, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Jay A. Egan, Honolulu, Hawaii. Loving uncle of Christopher Shea, Angie Shea, Andrea Shea Cirbee, Stephen Cirbee, Daniel Shea, Deborah Shea, Jason Didden, Amy Didden, Joanna Shea O’Brien, and Justin O’Brien. He is also survived by 17 grandnieces and grandnephews, and six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Predeceased by his parents George W. Egan and Louise (Martell) Egan and his brother-in-law Daniel F. Shea. Cherished by so many cousins and friends.   

George was born and raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI (1957), Dean Junior College, Franklin, MA (1959), Rockford College, Rockford, IL (1961), and Rhode Island College, Providence, RI. Passionate about hockey from a young age, George played at Mount Saint Charles Academy. At Dean Junior College, George organized the school’s hockey team, served as its first coach and obtained uniforms from Lou Pieri, the legendary former owner of the Providence Reds Hockey Team. George was also a photographer for the Dean yearbook and newspaper.

In 1959, George was drafted into the Army, where he was assigned to Missile Technician School at the Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Space and Technical Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and later assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon completion of his service, George returned home and began his long career in education as a teacher in Bellingham, MA. He obtained his Masters in Guidance and Counseling from Rhode Island College, and worked as a guidance counselor and school administrator, including at both Coventry Middle School and Coventry High School where he retired as Assistant Principal. George could command an auditorium of teenagers with his booming voice and assertive demeanor, while also being recognized for his unsurpassed kindness and compassion. He saw the inherent goodness in every child and strove to help every student succeed. His fairness, patience, and optimism inspired fellow educators and students alike. George also served for many years as the Chairman of the Coventry Teachers Federal Credit Union Board of Directors.

During this time, George began his hockey coaching career at Ponaganset and Coventry High Schools. For many decades, George skated with his players at every practice. He was twice named Hockey Coach of the Year by the Rhode Island High School Coaches Association. He led Ponaganset to the 1983 Suburban Division Championship and Coventry to the 1996 and 2003 Metropolitan-B Division Championships. George coached the Oaker teams for 19 seasons and also served as Coventry’s Athletic Director, finishing his coaching career with a 220-150-10 mark. George was the President of the Rhode Island Hockey Coaches Association from 1996 to 2004 and thereafter served as the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Director of Hockey. George scheduled all the interscholastic hockey games, and established the official hockey website that maintained standings and statistics for the Interscholastic league.

George is a member of the Coventry High Athletic Hall of Fame, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Frank Lanning Achievement Award from the Rhode Island sports news organization Words Unlimited.

As a child, George joined the Boy Scouts and spent every summer at Camp Yawgoog. George dedicated 25 years as an adult supervisor and counselor  serving on the camp’s staff, including as the Medicine Bow Camp Director. Fondly known to many at Yawgoog as “The Great Pumpkin”, George left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. When Yawgoog launched its campaign to raise funds for its 100th season, the depth of George’s impact became profoundly evident. Dozens of staff members came together to raise $100,000, marked by a commemorative monument at the camp’s central flagpole honoring George’s dedication and service. George’s legacy is etched not only in stone but also in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. His memory lives on in the spirit of Yawgoog and in the countless lives he touched with his unwavering compassion and humor. He was a true friend to all. 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning January 6th at 11:00 am in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 8 Daniels St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Visiting hours will be held at Kubaska Funeral Home, 33 Harris Ave, Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Sunday, January 5th from 3:00pm - 7:00pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow in St. Charles Cemetery. Donations in his honor can be made to: Yawgoog Project Alumni Fund, Boy Scouts of America, 223 Scituate Ave, Cranston, RI 02921 or 

https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/546/appeal/7258 

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