George Henry Bliss, III
September 7, 1937 – April 16, 2019
George Henry Bliss, III, 81 of Solomons, MD passed away on April 16, 2019 at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Born September 7, 1937 in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late George H. Bliss, Jr. and June (Thomas) Bliss. George graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1955 and from National Labor College in 2004. He served in the U.S. Army from August 28, 1957 until August 27, 1959 receiving the Good Conduct Medal and continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserves until August 6, 1963. George was initiated into the Plumbers Local Union 5 in 1955. He began working at the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters in 1967 and became the Assistant Director of Training in 1973. George became the Director of Training in 1997, serving in that position until his retirement in 2005.
George is survived by his wife Diane G. Bliss whom he married on September 23, 1956 in Kensington, MD; his children, Holly J. Bliss of Chesapeake Beach, MD, Robin Bliss Josefowicz of Urbana, MD and Glenn H. Bliss of Huntingtown, MD; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brothers, James O. Bliss of Lusby, MD and John T. Bliss of FL.
Visitation
Services
- Memorial Service
Friday, May 3, 2019
3:00 p.m.
Interment
- Private
Contributions
Condolences
Sort Comments
25 Apr 2019
12:13am
I went to work at the UA general office shortly after George became the Director of Training. I was assigned to work for George. He was a great boss. George was my friend and my guide as I began my career at the general office. He did great things for the UA through the Training Department. I will miss his kindness and friendship.
Steve Kelly
Retired Assistant General President
City
Mills River
State
NC
3 May 2019
2:58pm
Diane and family – Jean and I send our deepest condolences for the loss of George who I always looked at him as my brother – not only brothers in the Union (George with the UA and myself with the Ironworkers) but a true brother that I knew and worked with for over 40 years serving on many committees together, spending many days and nights on matters pertaining to training issues that resulted in producing highly qualified workers in all the Building Trades Unions. Together were responsible in coordinating and establishing training programs in Poland and Egypt. We devoted a great deal of our time in establishing special training programs for Native American Indians that other Building Trade Unions with our guidance adopted. I will miss George – my brother.
Ray Robertson
City
Mt. Prospect
State
Illinois
25 Apr 2019
10:21am
Lord, in this life you embraced George H. Bliss III with your tender love; grant him eternal rest.
Welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
We are grateful for his service in the U.S. Army, and with Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local Union 5, and with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters as Assistant Director of Training and as Director of Training.
We pray that wife Diane, and children Holly, Robin, Glenn and George’s brothers, James and John and their families, hold on to the cherished memories of George and all we have loved and lost in this lifetime.
Lou Spencer, Sonia and Family; including and on behalf of close friend James C. “Jim” Spencer
City
Caret
State
Virginia
26 Apr 2019
12:40pm
Dear Diane, Holly, family and friends I was saddened to hear of George passing. When I joined the U.A. General Officers in Washington D.C. in 2001, George was one of the first to reach out with a warm welcome, support and assistance. In addition to being a dedicated and excellent leader of the U.A. National Training Department, he was also a gentleman. His caring kindness extended to my late wife Frances and I was greatly appreciated. George’s being here made a big difference in the lives of many and his legacy will live on with his family and his continuing influence in skills training throughout the United Association.
Sean O’Ryan, Retired
Senior Administrative Assistant
To The General President.
City
Toronto / Sarasota
State
Florida
26 Apr 2019
4:56pm
Dear Diane, Family and Friends,
Please accept our (Patti and I) condolence on your loss of George. George truly was a blessing to all of us. His compassion, love and leadership was an inspiration to all of us. I first met George in 1990 when I came to Washingon D.C. to work at the National Office of The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on a one-year detail. George was one of the first individuals to make me feel welcome to the DC area. I continued my career with the DOL in DC from 1990 to 2008 and retired as the National Administrator for the Agency. During my 18 years as Administrator, I learned that George was driven by his compassion, love of the National Apprenticeship System and a great work ethic. George was a member (Labor representative) of the Secretary of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee and served as Labor Co-Chair for many years. George was respected and held in high esteem by all. The National Apprenticeship System is what it is today because of George’s persistance, love and his example of how the National Apprenticeship System should operate. I was blessed to be apart of his legacy and will continue to have in my heart his love for the National Apprenticeship System. To the family and friends, I say thank you for sharing his committment and love for the National Apprenticeship System.
God Bless
City
Peoria
State
Arizona
28 Apr 2019
5:23pm
To the George Bliss Family; please accept my sincere condolences for your lost. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with George at the U.S. Department of Labor, National Office of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, in Washington, D.C. George was the Labor Representative on the Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. He served as Labor Co-Chair for several years. George was sincere, well respected, and truly dedicated to the National Registered Apprenticeship System. He put forth many innovative and well thought out ideas that enhanced the training and skills being taught to upcoming apprentices. No matter how difficult or how innovative the ideas that where put forth through the ACA, George stood firm and steadfast to the concept of the National Apprenticeship System and how it should work. I learned a lot listening to his many stories about apprenticeship and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was also my fellow neighbor here in Calvert County, Maryland. He loved the Solomons area and we often talked about how fast the area was growing. I thank the family for sharing a small part of his life with me. My deepest sympathy,
Don Palmer, Huntingtown, Md
,
City
Huntingtown
State
Maryland
Sort Comments
I went to work at the UA general office shortly after George became the Director of Training. I was assigned to work for George. He was a great boss. George was my friend and my guide as I began my career at the general office. He did great things for the UA through the Training Department. I will miss his kindness and friendship.
Steve Kelly
Retired Assistant General President
Diane and family – Jean and I send our deepest condolences for the loss of George who I always looked at him as my brother – not only brothers in the Union (George with the UA and myself with the Ironworkers) but a true brother that I knew and worked with for over 40 years serving on many committees together, spending many days and nights on matters pertaining to training issues that resulted in producing highly qualified workers in all the Building Trades Unions. Together were responsible in coordinating and establishing training programs in Poland and Egypt. We devoted a great deal of our time in establishing special training programs for Native American Indians that other Building Trade Unions with our guidance adopted. I will miss George – my brother.
Ray Robertson
Lord, in this life you embraced George H. Bliss III with your tender love; grant him eternal rest.
Welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
We are grateful for his service in the U.S. Army, and with Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local Union 5, and with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters as Assistant Director of Training and as Director of Training.
We pray that wife Diane, and children Holly, Robin, Glenn and George’s brothers, James and John and their families, hold on to the cherished memories of George and all we have loved and lost in this lifetime.
Lou Spencer, Sonia and Family; including and on behalf of close friend James C. “Jim” Spencer
Dear Diane, Holly, family and friends I was saddened to hear of George passing. When I joined the U.A. General Officers in Washington D.C. in 2001, George was one of the first to reach out with a warm welcome, support and assistance. In addition to being a dedicated and excellent leader of the U.A. National Training Department, he was also a gentleman. His caring kindness extended to my late wife Frances and I was greatly appreciated. George’s being here made a big difference in the lives of many and his legacy will live on with his family and his continuing influence in skills training throughout the United Association.
Sean O’Ryan, Retired
Senior Administrative Assistant
To The General President.
Dear Diane, Family and Friends,
Please accept our (Patti and I) condolence on your loss of George. George truly was a blessing to all of us. His compassion, love and leadership was an inspiration to all of us. I first met George in 1990 when I came to Washingon D.C. to work at the National Office of The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on a one-year detail. George was one of the first individuals to make me feel welcome to the DC area. I continued my career with the DOL in DC from 1990 to 2008 and retired as the National Administrator for the Agency. During my 18 years as Administrator, I learned that George was driven by his compassion, love of the National Apprenticeship System and a great work ethic. George was a member (Labor representative) of the Secretary of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee and served as Labor Co-Chair for many years. George was respected and held in high esteem by all. The National Apprenticeship System is what it is today because of George’s persistance, love and his example of how the National Apprenticeship System should operate. I was blessed to be apart of his legacy and will continue to have in my heart his love for the National Apprenticeship System. To the family and friends, I say thank you for sharing his committment and love for the National Apprenticeship System.
God Bless
To the George Bliss Family; please accept my sincere condolences for your lost. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with George at the U.S. Department of Labor, National Office of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, in Washington, D.C. George was the Labor Representative on the Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. He served as Labor Co-Chair for several years. George was sincere, well respected, and truly dedicated to the National Registered Apprenticeship System. He put forth many innovative and well thought out ideas that enhanced the training and skills being taught to upcoming apprentices. No matter how difficult or how innovative the ideas that where put forth through the ACA, George stood firm and steadfast to the concept of the National Apprenticeship System and how it should work. I learned a lot listening to his many stories about apprenticeship and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was also my fellow neighbor here in Calvert County, Maryland. He loved the Solomons area and we often talked about how fast the area was growing. I thank the family for sharing a small part of his life with me. My deepest sympathy,
Don Palmer, Huntingtown, Md
,