George Thomas Hague

George Thomas Hague (1942–2026)

George Thomas Hague, 83, passed away in early 2026 grateful for a life well-lived. He was born on Christmas Eve in 1942 in Queens, New York, to Emil and Genevieve Hague, arriving during a winter storm that marked the beginning of a life defined by determination, service, and steady purpose.

He grew up in Queens alongside his siblings Joan, Maryanne, Don, and Barbara Ann (“Bobi”), with whom he shared a close bond throughout his life. At the age of 17, George entered the United States Army, where he honorably served under the guidance of Sergeant Vyers, who instilled in him a lifelong discipline summarized in the principle, “Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” This philosophy shaped George’s approach to every stage of his personal and professional life.

Following his military service, George returned to Queens and joined the New York City Police Department. After a serious car accident, he suffered a spinal cord injury and was told he would never walk again. Through the relentless advocacy of his mother, who fought to secure his transfer to a VA rehabilitation program, and through the steadfast support of Bobi, George undertook years of intensive rehabilitation. In time, he defied the expectations placed before him, first walking with crutches and eventually walking independently. That recovery became one of the defining testaments of his determination.

Encouraged by his sister Bobi, he later pursued higher education at the City University of New York (John Jay College), earning a bachelor’s degree, and subsequently completed a Master of Science in Public Administration at Temple University. During this same time, George married Toni, and together they had one son, Brian.  George recognized Brian’s birth as the happiest day of his life.  As George and Toni continued their career paths the pressures put distance between them, eventually leading to divorce. Yet George remained dedicated to Brian throughout his life.

George built a distinguished career in public service and transportation administration. He held senior leadership positions with the City of Philadelphia, including Assistant Managing Director, and later served as Assistant General Manager at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). After 15 years with SEPTA, he retired and relocated to California, where he served as Project Manager for SamTrans, contributing to major improvements in the Caltrain commuter rail system.

During his time in California, George reconnected with his childhood friend Denny, which led to meeting his future wife, Jackie. George and Jackie shared a deep and enduring partnership, initially living bi-locally between California and Arizona before settling in Davis. Jackie served as a professor at the University of California, Davis, while George worked in administrative leadership within the university’s Department of Chemistry.

George later retired to dedicate himself to civic service in Davis, where he served as a City Commissioner, contributing to initiatives in social services, economic development, planning, transportation, bicycle infrastructure, accessibility through universal design, and street safety. He was widely respected for his thoughtful, measured, and solutions-oriented approach to complex civic issues.

In his private life, George was an accomplished author who left a treasury of writings drawn from his inner world of insight and wisdom. He moved seamlessly between historical fiction and poetic reflections on the quiet beauties and enduring lessons of everyday life. Through custom greeting cards, he shared poems that brought comfort, understanding, and joy to local readers. By documenting his family history, he left his descendants a roadmap of love and resilience.

George was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.  He is survived by his wife Jackie, his son Brian (Hope); granddaughter Abby, his Sisters-in-law Deborah (Tom), Sandra and Pat, his bothers-in-law John (Jo-Anne) and Jim, as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was also deeply devoted to his Shetland Sheepdogs Cassy and Sammy, who brought him years of companionship and joy.

George will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to service, his steady leadership, his creativity, and his guiding philosophy of preparation, responsibility, and acceptance. He built a life defined by purpose, resilience, and connection.  George leaves behind a legacy of thoughtful public service and enduring love for his friends and family.