George Roberts Wallis died of kidney failure on Feb. 18, surrounded by love, peace and family. He was 87.

The son of Philip Wallis and Miriam Clark Wallis, he was born on May 16, 1931, in Philadelphia, where he and his three brothers grew up with many Clark and Roberts cousins. He loved nature, sailing, tennis, reading, and the joie de vivre of France and Italy. He was both intrigued by and cared sincerely for his fellow man.

He graduated from the Mill Brook School in 1949 and went on to study at Princeton and earned a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army in Rocheforte, France, until 1955.

Curious George aptly describes his temperament. He loved learning, solving problems big and small, and giving back. And he loved telling stories and teasing everyone along the way. He launched his career in New York city, solving problems for others in corporate America while at McKinsey and Company. Deciding that owning the problem was better than advising, he moved on to be general manager at Exide Batteries, Duracell, and then his own venture, Westerly Management.

He courted the love of his life and soul mate, Alice Potts, and joyously won her hand. They married on July 20, 1957, and had three children, Philip, Nancy and David, as they moved back and forth from Philadelphia to Bedford, N.Y. They ultimately settled in Freeport on the coast of Maine, the site of many of George’s summer joys. Their final years were spent at Oceanview in Falmouth, Me.

Family and friends were always paramount for George (who was known as Hey-Hey to many) — followed closely by gardening, reading, backyard birding, and his recently treasured double-scoop chocolate ice cream cones. His inquisitive nature and desire to help and mentor others was both earnest and uncanny. He oversaw the Angel Tree gifts for children at St. Bartholomew’s Church, advocated for recovering alcoholics securing housing through Oxford House, served on the board of trustees of the Maine College of Art, raised a succession of beloved Welsh corgis, and lovingly tended his gardens of dahlias and freesias. His focus was on all creatures great and small. His family miss him deeply and remember him with great love as he moves on to be with Allie.

He is survived by his children, Philip S. Wallis of Vineyard Haven, Nancy W. Kittredge of Falmouth, Me., and David P. Wallis of Oak Bluffs; a brother, Robert C. Wallis of Philadelphia; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife and brothers James T. Wallis and John Wallis.

A funeral service will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Yarmouth, Me., on Saturday, March 16, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to Oxford House, Inc. 1010 Wayne Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign an online guest book.