In Memoriam: George Witt, 90
Went from Being a Page to a VP at Chase Manhattan
George Witt, 90, died peacefully on August 23, 2023, in Tobyhanna, PA.
Born in Bushwick, Brooklyn, he attended St. Francis Prep high school in Brooklyn, and after graduation in 1950, landed a job at Chase Manhattan Bank in their bookkeeping department.
With the company's permission, Witt was able to take some time away from his job every year to serve in the National Guard. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant First Class, having been awarded a Sharpshooter Badge & Bar.
It was while working at Chase's offices at 30 Rockefeller Center that he met Diana, who did check processing at the company. The couple married in 1956 and settled into building their lives together in Ozone Park, Queens. They welcomed two daughters: Elaine and Tina.
Diana left her job at Chase after becoming pregnant with Elaine, as was customary in those days, but George would spend 35 years at the company, rising from a page to a Vice President, specializing in international banking.
While at Chase, he took courses at St. John's University and completed the Stonier Graduate School of Banking program, hosted by Rutgers. He retired at the age of 55, proud that he had built such a successful career at Chase from the ground up.
Witt is survived by Diana, his wife of 66 years; his daughter, Elaine, who was his primary caregiver; two grandsons and two granddaughters.
He was predeceased by his daughter Tina, who died in 2008. Her ashes were scattered in Vermont, in a cherished spot that the Witts visited two weeks every year over many memorable summers. His ashes will be spread there, too.