George H. Scithers, 1929-2010
Weird Tales sorrowfully reports the passing of editor emeritus George H. Scithers, our longtime teacher and friend.
George passed away April 19 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, from complications following a heart attack suffered the morning of April 17. He was 80. He had been in declining health for the last few years, due to complications from diabetes and a heart condition. He is survived by a number of cousins.
George was honored with four Science Fiction Achievement Awards (a.k.a. the “Hugo Awards” bestowed annually by the World Science Fiction Convention): twice for his editorship of the fanzine Amra and twice for his editorship of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. He also received the World Fantasy Award for his work at Weird Tales.
George Scithers’s ashes were buried in Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, June 2. The military ceremony included a twent-one-gun salute and a color guard who formally folded the flag and presented it to Larry Fiege, George’s life companion. A West Point graduate who served in the Signal Corps for twenty-one years, George served in the Korean War.
Personal condolences may be sent to Larry Fiege, 218 Blandford St., Rockville, MD 20850-2629. Remembrances of George’s life in the SF community may be sent to letters@weirdtales.net.
Tags: asimov, asimovs, editor, fantasy, george scithers, scithers, sorcery, sword, sword & sorcery, sword and sorcery, Weird Tales
April 19th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Very sorry to hear this. Best wishes to all of you.
April 19th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I’m really saddened by this.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I’m very sorry to hear this. Condolences to everyone at WT, and to George’s family.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
So sorry to hear this. Heartfelt condolences to George’s family and the Weird Tales crew.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Condolences.
April 19th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Truly saddened. George was a legend. My sympathies to his family and close friends.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I only got to know him recently through his editorship of Cat Tales. He was very supportive of my efforts. I wish I had had the opportunity to know him better.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Very sorry. Condolences.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Sad news, indeed! George was the first editor from whom I received handwritten rejections for my stories, and the few words he wrote in his rejections were always incredibly encouraging.
Condolences to his friends and family.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:02 am
George taught me so much! I worked for him both at Asimov’s and Amazing as a slushpile reader and for Owlswick Press as a part time bookkeeper. We weren’t in touch over the past few years. I will never forget him!
April 20th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
[...] was sorry to hear about the passing of George Scithers, a former editor for Weird Tales [...]
April 26th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Sorry to hear about George — among Amra, Owlswick and more, he gave me a lot of enjoyment!