George Alfred Blair was born in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio to Roy Robert Blair and Georgia Gotshall Blair, the third of four children. After high school, George attended college at Miami University.
In 1939, George married Dorothy Spies, of Detroit, and raised four daughters in Shrewsbury, New Jersey where he became a businessman and entrepreneur. In 1973, he married his second wife, JoAnne White, and the couple was married for over 40 years.
It was as a show/barefoot/three-event water skier that George gained global recognition. He learned to water ski in 1955 while recovering from spinal fusion surgery. After mastering the sport, he opened two water ski schools in NJ, teaching thousands, including celebrities such as singer Donny Osmond.
At the age of 46, barefoot water skiing became his passion. A pioneer of the sport, George won numerous awards and established several world records. Dressed in his signature yellow wet suit, he became known as "Banana George." He was named Man of the Year by the American Barefoot Ski Club in 1982, 1986, 1987, and 1992. His barefoot ski act opened the show at Cypress Gardens after he relocated to Winter Haven FL. In 1991, he was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame.
George was regarded as a great showman. His infectious enthusiasm for the sport spread throughout the world as he competed in international water ski tournaments and performed exhibitions at innumerable ProTour events and ski shows. George was also featured in many national television spots and commercials, and appeared with Regis, Jay Leno, Oprah, Letterman and others.
Inspired by his grandsons, he became an avid snowboarder at age 75 and was named Honorary Ambassador of Steamboat Springs, CO. Of his several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, one is for being the oldest participant in two extreme sports - barefoot water skiing and snowboarding. He leaves behind a yellow wet suit, a global legion of adoring friends and fans, and his message to all - "Do It."
He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Blair Manson, former Mayor of Shrewsbury, NJ. He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, JoAnne Blair of NYC; four daughters, Donna Blair of Forsyth, GA, Georgia Blair and Alan Lopez of Shrewsbury, Carrie Blair of Middleburg, VA, and Robin Blair of Shrewsbury. His four grandsons are Robert Blair of GA, Marcus Turrisi of NC, Theodore Fetter of VT, and Oliver Fetter of NYC. There are four great-grandchildren.
He was also predeceased by his parents, a brother Robert Ira in 1922, Laurel (owner and founder of Blair Lithopanes in Toledo, Ohio) in 1993 and a sister, Betty Eggert of New York.
George Blair, aka Banana George, 98, passed away on October 18, 2013. He was a well-known fixture at Cypress Gardens, and delighted thousands of fans as he performed in the world-famous water ski show there.
He is my mother's first cousin and she loves yellow also. Must be a Blair thing.
In 1939, George married Dorothy Spies, of Detroit, and raised four daughters in Shrewsbury, New Jersey where he became a businessman and entrepreneur. In 1973, he married his second wife, JoAnne White, and the couple was married for over 40 years.
It was as a show/barefoot/three-event water skier that George gained global recognition. He learned to water ski in 1955 while recovering from spinal fusion surgery. After mastering the sport, he opened two water ski schools in NJ, teaching thousands, including celebrities such as singer Donny Osmond.
At the age of 46, barefoot water skiing became his passion. A pioneer of the sport, George won numerous awards and established several world records. Dressed in his signature yellow wet suit, he became known as "Banana George." He was named Man of the Year by the American Barefoot Ski Club in 1982, 1986, 1987, and 1992. His barefoot ski act opened the show at Cypress Gardens after he relocated to Winter Haven FL. In 1991, he was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame.
George was regarded as a great showman. His infectious enthusiasm for the sport spread throughout the world as he competed in international water ski tournaments and performed exhibitions at innumerable ProTour events and ski shows. George was also featured in many national television spots and commercials, and appeared with Regis, Jay Leno, Oprah, Letterman and others.
Inspired by his grandsons, he became an avid snowboarder at age 75 and was named Honorary Ambassador of Steamboat Springs, CO. Of his several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, one is for being the oldest participant in two extreme sports - barefoot water skiing and snowboarding. He leaves behind a yellow wet suit, a global legion of adoring friends and fans, and his message to all - "Do It."
He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Blair Manson, former Mayor of Shrewsbury, NJ. He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, JoAnne Blair of NYC; four daughters, Donna Blair of Forsyth, GA, Georgia Blair and Alan Lopez of Shrewsbury, Carrie Blair of Middleburg, VA, and Robin Blair of Shrewsbury. His four grandsons are Robert Blair of GA, Marcus Turrisi of NC, Theodore Fetter of VT, and Oliver Fetter of NYC. There are four great-grandchildren.
He was also predeceased by his parents, a brother Robert Ira in 1922, Laurel (owner and founder of Blair Lithopanes in Toledo, Ohio) in 1993 and a sister, Betty Eggert of New York.
George Blair, aka Banana George, 98, passed away on October 18, 2013. He was a well-known fixture at Cypress Gardens, and delighted thousands of fans as he performed in the world-famous water ski show there.
He is my mother's first cousin and she loves yellow also. Must be a Blair thing.
George Alfred Blair was born in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio to Roy Robert Blair and Georgia Gotshall Blair, the third of four children. After high school, George attended college at Miami University.
In 1939, George married Dorothy Spies, of Detroit, and raised four daughters in Shrewsbury, New Jersey where he became a businessman and entrepreneur. In 1973, he married his second wife, JoAnne White, and the couple was married for over 40 years.
It was as a show/barefoot/three-event water skier that George gained global recognition. He learned to water ski in 1955 while recovering from spinal fusion surgery. After mastering the sport, he opened two water ski schools in NJ, teaching thousands, including celebrities such as singer Donny Osmond.
At the age of 46, barefoot water skiing became his passion. A pioneer of the sport, George won numerous awards and established several world records. Dressed in his signature yellow wet suit, he became known as "Banana George." He was named Man of the Year by the American Barefoot Ski Club in 1982, 1986, 1987, and 1992. His barefoot ski act opened the show at Cypress Gardens after he relocated to Winter Haven FL. In 1991, he was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame.
George was regarded as a great showman. His infectious enthusiasm for the sport spread throughout the world as he competed in international water ski tournaments and performed exhibitions at innumerable ProTour events and ski shows. George was also featured in many national television spots and commercials, and appeared with Regis, Jay Leno, Oprah, Letterman and others.
Inspired by his grandsons, he became an avid snowboarder at age 75 and was named Honorary Ambassador of Steamboat Springs, CO. Of his several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, one is for being the oldest participant in two extreme sports - barefoot water skiing and snowboarding. He leaves behind a yellow wet suit, a global legion of adoring friends and fans, and his message to all - "Do It."
He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Blair Manson, former Mayor of Shrewsbury, NJ. He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, JoAnne Blair of NYC; four daughters, Donna Blair of Forsyth, GA, Georgia Blair and Alan Lopez of Shrewsbury, Carrie Blair of Middleburg, VA, and Robin Blair of Shrewsbury. His four grandsons are Robert Blair of GA, Marcus Turrisi of NC, Theodore Fetter of VT, and Oliver Fetter of NYC. There are four great-grandchildren.
He was also predeceased by his parents, a brother Robert Ira in 1922, Laurel (owner and founder of Blair Lithopanes in Toledo, Ohio) in 1993 and a sister, Betty Eggert of New York.
George Blair, aka Banana George, 98, passed away on October 18, 2013. He was a well-known fixture at Cypress Gardens, and delighted thousands of fans as he performed in the world-famous water ski show there.
He is my mother's first cousin and she loves yellow also. Must be a Blair thing.
In 1939, George married Dorothy Spies, of Detroit, and raised four daughters in Shrewsbury, New Jersey where he became a businessman and entrepreneur. In 1973, he married his second wife, JoAnne White, and the couple was married for over 40 years.
It was as a show/barefoot/three-event water skier that George gained global recognition. He learned to water ski in 1955 while recovering from spinal fusion surgery. After mastering the sport, he opened two water ski schools in NJ, teaching thousands, including celebrities such as singer Donny Osmond.
At the age of 46, barefoot water skiing became his passion. A pioneer of the sport, George won numerous awards and established several world records. Dressed in his signature yellow wet suit, he became known as "Banana George." He was named Man of the Year by the American Barefoot Ski Club in 1982, 1986, 1987, and 1992. His barefoot ski act opened the show at Cypress Gardens after he relocated to Winter Haven FL. In 1991, he was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame.
George was regarded as a great showman. His infectious enthusiasm for the sport spread throughout the world as he competed in international water ski tournaments and performed exhibitions at innumerable ProTour events and ski shows. George was also featured in many national television spots and commercials, and appeared with Regis, Jay Leno, Oprah, Letterman and others.
Inspired by his grandsons, he became an avid snowboarder at age 75 and was named Honorary Ambassador of Steamboat Springs, CO. Of his several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, one is for being the oldest participant in two extreme sports - barefoot water skiing and snowboarding. He leaves behind a yellow wet suit, a global legion of adoring friends and fans, and his message to all - "Do It."
He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Blair Manson, former Mayor of Shrewsbury, NJ. He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, JoAnne Blair of NYC; four daughters, Donna Blair of Forsyth, GA, Georgia Blair and Alan Lopez of Shrewsbury, Carrie Blair of Middleburg, VA, and Robin Blair of Shrewsbury. His four grandsons are Robert Blair of GA, Marcus Turrisi of NC, Theodore Fetter of VT, and Oliver Fetter of NYC. There are four great-grandchildren.
He was also predeceased by his parents, a brother Robert Ira in 1922, Laurel (owner and founder of Blair Lithopanes in Toledo, Ohio) in 1993 and a sister, Betty Eggert of New York.
George Blair, aka Banana George, 98, passed away on October 18, 2013. He was a well-known fixture at Cypress Gardens, and delighted thousands of fans as he performed in the world-famous water ski show there.
He is my mother's first cousin and she loves yellow also. Must be a Blair thing.
