SOUTH SHORE YMCA

George Atkinson honored at Quincy Y track dedication

Posted: Jun. 14, 2022

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, the South Shore YMCA senior leadership team hosted a dedication of the Quincy YMCA indoor running track in honor of longtime South Shore YMCA board member and supporter, George Atkinson (1947-2021).

The naming of the George Atkinson Track was celebrated by a gathering of over 40 family members, friends, and guests whose lives have been touched by George in profound ways. George Atkinson lived and personified the YMCA lifestyle in spirit, mind, and body. Mr. Atkinson served on the South Shore YMCA Executive Board from 1981 until his retirement in 2019 and was a mentor for many in our community. He will always be remembered for his commitment to the Y.

George was a longtime volunteer, donor, board member, athlete, and friend. But, above all, George was an adoring husband and father who shared his passion for outdoor adventuring with his family, including skiing, biking, hiking, and running.

“This is my thirteenth year [at the South Shore YMCA], and to see the line of Executive Board Members who have served, like George, you see there is a deep connection to the community,” said Paul Gorman, South Shore YMCA President and CEO.

“[George] was a gentle soul with great listening skills. He was the type of volunteer you always wish you had,” added Gorman. “He was instrumental in our Strategic Planning Committee for the South Shore YMCA, helping us become one of the largest Ys in the country. He was heavily involved in our Y, and was passionate about getting families to be active and exercise together. I will absolutely miss him.”

Steven Briggs, Senior Vice President of Quincy Mutual Group and member of the South Shore YMCA Executive Board, welcomed George’s wife Meredith Atkinson and daughter Rebecca Anderson, who joined the event virtually, and then spoke of his friend and fellow board member.

“George and I were both new Y board members together, and got to know each other through that connection,” shared Briggs. “We were the younger guys back then and we liked to cycle around the streets of the South Shore together. When Paul [Gorman] asked about dedicating this track to him, I thought it was perfect. Although, as a runner, I could never keep up with him on any track. He was so humble that for years I didn’t know he was a state champion. He excelled at pretty much everything he tried, but he was so humble and an inspiration to us all. He was the best friend anyone could have.”

George’s son, Geoffrey Atkinson, spoke on behalf of his family. “This is such an honor, not just for my dad but for our whole family, and everyone that is here, we consider you part of our family as well. My dad was a big fan of activity and exercise and what that meant to individuals and also their families and their communities. This would mean the world to him.”

Atkinson’s passion for athletics and fitness started in the 1960s as an all-star for the Hingham High School track team and then at Springfield College. After completing college and returning home to coach at his high school alma mater, George served the students of Northeastern University as a professor of Recreational and Leisure Studies. His research led him into the fields of orienteering, the interconnectedness of outdoor exercise and environmentalism, and early adoption of the importance of guarding against obesity in children.

“This is the combination of two of his favorite things,” Geoffrey Atkinson added, “his love of track and field, and the YMCA.”