A Storyteller’s Story
An avid storyteller, beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, George W. Behymer peacefully passed away on December 20th surrounded by his loving family.
With his avid curiosity, zest for adventure, travels to faraway places, creative spark, and booming laugh, George was never at a loss weaving creative and humorous tales of adventure. While these traits are great ingredients to the recipe of a good story, George’s life story needed no such embellishments to portray the story of a life well-lived.
Born and raised on the family farm in Locust Corner, Ohio, George served his country proudly in the United States Army from his high school graduation in 1945 to 1947. Shortly after his return, he married his high school sweetheart and true love of his life, Martha Nobis. Working together, the two raised five children while engaged in a range of community and civic organizations.
George pursued a career in the savings and loan industry culminating in his presidency at two leading Cincinnati institutions. Early in his career George also became a tireless spokesman for urban revitalization and staunch supporter of low and moderate-income home ownership. A man ahead of his time, George was instrumental in championing the renovation of Cincinnati’s urban core at a time when this was not yet fashionable. His vision, advocacy and financial acumen played a major role in the rebirth of the Over the Rhine area and other inner-city neighborhoods ravaged in the tumultuous 1960s.
George’s efforts and passion extended well beyond Cincinnati. He was the driving force behind Neighborhood Housing Services, a national non-profit organization providing financing and homeownership assistance to low-income homeowners. His expertise in this area was recognized internationally, and he lent it enthusiastically in State Department-sponsored projects throughout the developing world, from Bangladesh to Zambia and many parts in between. A man who knew no borders, George said it best himself how extremely fortunate he was to “reach places that were only daydreams in the geography classes in my school.”
George’s ability to navigate so many different cultures was no doubt due in part to his honesty, his open mindedness, his genuine compassion for others and his knack of both seeking adventure and adventure seeking him.
In telling his own story, George considered himself a very lucky man. Lucky in love, lucky with family and lucky to have a career he loved with the right mix of helping others, seeing the world and adding in a bit of adventure.
George’s story will remain in the hearts of those he has left behind.
He was the beloved husband for 66 years to the late Martha Behymer (nee Nobis), devoted father of Lynn (Charlie) Chapin, Michael (the late Gail W.) Behymer, Andy (Meg) Behymer, Judi (Chris) Davis, and Joyce (Steven) Tadler, loving grandfather of Fayth, Jessica, Ashley, Rachael (Andrew), Sam W. (Adele), Eliza (Matt), Sam B., and Katy, caring great-grandfather of 7, and dear brother of the late Sonny, Richard, and Glen Behymer, and Ruth Alice Bergen.
At his request, a private family service will be held. If desired, memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Southern and Central Ohio Chapter, 8035 Hosbrook Rd., Suite 210, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. https://www.jdrf.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George Behymer Jr., please visit our flower store.
An avid storyteller, beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, George W. Behymer peacefully passed away on December 20th surrounded by his loving family.
With his avid curiosity, zest for adventure, travels to faraway places, creative spark, and booming laugh, George was never at a loss weaving creative and humorous tales of adventure. While these traits are great ingredients to the recipe of a good story, George’s life story needed no such embellishments to portray the story of a life well-lived.
Born and raised on the family farm in Locust Corner, Ohio, George served his country proudly in the United States Army from his high school graduation in 1945 to 1947. Shortly after his return, he married his high school sweetheart and true love of his life, Martha Nobis. Working together, the two raised five children while engaged in a range of community and civic organizations.
George pursued a career in the savings and loan industry culminating in his presidency at two leading Cincinnati institutions. Early in his career George also became a tireless spokesman for urban revitalization and staunch supporter of low and moderate-income home ownership. A man ahead of his time, George was instrumental in championing the renovation of Cincinnati’s urban core at a time when this was not yet fashionable. His vision, advocacy and financial acumen played a major role in the rebirth of the Over the Rhine area and other inner-city neighborhoods ravaged in the tumultuous 1960s.
George’s efforts and passion extended well beyond Cincinnati. He was the driving force behind Neighborhood Housing Services, a national non-profit organization providing financing and homeownership assistance to low-income homeowners. His expertise in this area was recognized internationally, and he lent it enthusiastically in State Department-sponsored projects throughout the developing world, from Bangladesh to Zambia and many parts in between. A man who knew no borders, George said it best himself how extremely fortunate he was to “reach places that were only daydreams in the geography classes in my school.”
George’s ability to navigate so many different cultures was no doubt due in part to his honesty, his open mindedness, his genuine compassion for others and his knack of both seeking adventure and adventure seeking him.
In telling his own story, George considered himself a very lucky man. Lucky in love, lucky with family and lucky to have a career he loved with the right mix of helping others, seeing the world and adding in a bit of adventure.
George’s story will remain in the hearts of those he has left behind.
He was the beloved husband for 66 years to the late Martha Behymer (nee Nobis), devoted father of Lynn (Charlie) Chapin, Michael (the late Gail W.) Behymer, Andy (Meg) Behymer, Judi (Chris) Davis, and Joyce (Steven) Tadler, loving grandfather of Fayth, Jessica, Ashley, Rachael (Andrew), Sam W. (Adele), Eliza (Matt), Sam B., and Katy, caring great-grandfather of 7, and dear brother of the late Sonny, Richard, and Glen Behymer, and Ruth Alice Bergen.
At his request, a private family service will be held. If desired, memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Southern and Central Ohio Chapter, 8035 Hosbrook Rd., Suite 210, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. https://www.jdrf.org
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