George Bernard Stupp, Jr.

George B. Stupp of Columbia, Maryland (MD) passed away on 29 June, 2018.

Born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1944, to WWII Army Air Corps Service member George B. Stupp, Sr. and Beverly F. Stupp of Frederick, MD, George Bernard Stupp, Jr. was the eldest of four children.

George overcame tremendous odds and obstacles, having contracted a severe case of polio at the age of 8 and becoming nearly quadriplegic. Nevertheless he went on to live his life on his own terms in an era without medical insurance or handicapped facilities. His parents thought ‘out of the box’ and chose to keep him at home against the advice of medical professionals, who feared he would not thrive. But thrive he did. Growing up on top of Braddock Mountain in Frederick County, MD, he was mainstream schooled in Middletown, MD. He took classes using an intercom over a phone line, and was taken into the school periodically for formal tests.

Upon completing high school, George attended the University of Illinois (UI) to study electrical engineering. Having been encouraged by his parents, he was fiercely independent and attended UI without his family accompanying him. He and other classmates with physical disabilities lived in their own assisted-living home, perhaps the only one in the country supporting university students, employing able-bodied students for physical assistance. Once again he thrived, receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering. He maintained contact with several classmates from UI all of his life.

In the early 1970s, George moved back to Maryland where he continued to live on his own terms. Modeled on his assisted-living arrangement at UI, he rented his own apartment in Columbia, MD and hired a live-in helper to assist him with daily living needs. He was hired by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), in Laurel, MD, where he worked for over 40 yrs and was ultimately promoted to Principal Professional Staff . George had extensive experience in the engineering of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies, including developing and leading a simulation and test facility to evaluate the integration of GPS with Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), typically for military applications. His career also touched a variety of other arenas, from medical innovations to orbital space projects.

In the 1970-1980s George pushed past additional boundaries, getting his driver’s license and a succession of specially-equipped vans that he drove independently. Loving to travel, George encouraged others to do so as well.

Being a caring sibling, George became the legal guardian for his youngest sibling after both their parents died in the mid 1970s. Along with his other siblings, he helped guide the youngest through high school and college, including visiting colleges out of state, and on into adulthood, even giving her away at her wedding in their father’s stead. Throughout his life he was an active and interested part of his siblings’ families, caring just as deeply about his niece Ivory Goff Davis; two nephews, Alexander Goff and David Goddard; as well as two grandnieces, Athena and Bianca Davis.

Loving life, George amassed a caring group of friends and was respected by his peers. He stayed current in many areas of interest, loving to read, learn, discuss, and innovate with peers and friends.

George lived his life on his own terms and his life ended on his own terms, passing away while at work at JHUAPL. George is survived by his three sisters, Virginia Stupp Taylor of Frederick, MD; Debra Stupp of Waynesboro, PA; and Laura Stupp Goddard of Fayetteville, NC. He will be missed by many. The family will be receiving friends Saturday 7/7/18 from 2:00pm until 4:00pm at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.