Some services for ex-ambulance chief, wife killed in car crash

FLANDERS, NY — Services for a “selfless” former paramedic and his wife killed in a motorcycle accident in New Hampshire — and for the family patriarch, who died days after what friends said was heartbroken — have been set.

“The family of George J. Worthington Sr. and George J. Worthington Jr. and his beloved wife, Mary F. Worthington, would like to thank all of their family and friends at this time for their condolences on the tragic loss of life that has befallen their family,” the services said in a statement.

The settings are as follows:

The operation of George J. Worthington Sr. will take place on Saturday, October 3, at 9:30 am. at the Catholic Roman Catholic Church of St. Isidore, located at 622 Pulaski Street in Riverhead.

Services for George J. Worthington Jr. and Mary Worthington will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 1 p.m. at the Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, located at 641 Flanders Road in Flanders. A reception will follow.

Interment will take place on Sunday, October 4th at 11 am. at Flanders Cemetery, located at 1227-1383 Flanders Road, Flanders.

A GoFundMe page, “In Loving Memory of the Worthingtons,” was set up by George's brother, Ronald J. Worthington.

“As most of you know, on August 28th, my brother George and his beloved wife Mary were tragically killed in a motorcycle accident,” he wrote. “To know George was to love George. His heart was as big as the sky. He was the man you could always count on anytime, every day. His greatest love was Mary. When they met, it was love at first sight and I witnessed firsthand. Their love for each other was so strong and evident to anyone who knew them. They could never live without each other.”

The GoFundMe page, he said, is for the couple's son Joey, his wife Kristal and their young family.

“We hope to help them financially with any unexpected costs that may arise. George and Mary's memory will never be forgotten,” he said.

To donate, click here.

The East End community was shocked this weekend by the death of Worthington, a beloved member of the Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Mary. And adding to the tragedy, the patriarch of the family died on Monday.

Worthington Jr., 61, and Mary were in New Hampshire on Friday for the 2020 Laconia Motorcycle Week.

George was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Mary on the back when their motorcycle veered off the road and crashed in Gilford between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

George died in the accident. Mary was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia and airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. He died shortly thereafter, according to Dunleavy.

New Hampshire State Police have not released a crash report.

On Monday, George Worthington Sr. also died, apparently of a “broken heart,” said family friend Susan Tocci.

Dunleavy, who has known the Worthingtons since he was “just a kid,” said his father, also a former chief, and Worthington were longtime friends. Dunleavy followed in his father's footsteps to become head of the agency himself.

“George has always been our rock,” she said. “You were always able to bounce something off of him, he asked for advice.”

George was in the ambulance corps for 32 years.

“Whenever anyone thought of the Flanders-Northampton Ambulance, they always knew the name George Worthington,” Dunleavy said. “He was a great member of our community.”

The Worthingtons lived in Flanders and George loved to volunteer and spend his time giving and helping others.

“He was a great teacher and mentor, a loving father and husband. He was just a good guy,” Dunleavy said. “A standing guy around.”

George and his wife and son were extremely close, Dunleavy said. “They did everything together. They were very family oriented.”

Losing both his parents was “very hard” on Joseph, he said. “But he has the support of his family and all of us. We're all behind him 100 percent.”

George and Mary, he added, had a lifetime of love. “Mary stood behind George in everything he did. She was his rock. They were always together.”

Remembering his longtime colleague and friend, Dunleavy said Worthington wasn't just a motorcycle enthusiast, he was an ardent Harley-Davidson fan. Recalling all the laughs and memories they shared, she added, “It was a pistol.”

Many remember seeing Worthington at the 7-Eleven. “When someone needed to find George, he knew exactly where to go. George would be there like clockwork, drinking coffee at 7-Eleven. People would love to meet George, who had the big truck with all the lights .”

But in all seriousness, Dunleavy said, “He was 100 percent committed to the ambulance — he was a full-time employee as well as a volunteer. He even cut our lawn! He was so committed to this organization.”

George, Dunleavy said, started out as an EMT and was currently an intermediate critical care life support technician. Worthington and Dunleavy were going to start paramedic school together soon, he said. “George was so selfless. He put others before himself 110 percent of the time. He always put his patients first. He was a consummate professional and provided top-notch, quality care to all of his patients.”

Over the years, Dunleavy said, George “made a lot of babies, some on the side of Sunrise Highway. He loved what he did.”

Mary, who worked at Eastern Suffolk Cardiology, was also deeply loved. Karen Pace, who worked with Mary and was her dear friend for more than 20 years, was devastated.

“George Worthington Jr. was larger than life, but I have to make sure you write about my friend, the woman behind the man,” he said. “Mary Worthington was the perfect soul mate for George. She was quiet and let George be this person who would take on the world, save people's lives and always be there to help others — but she was right behind him, holding him up and encouraging him at every turn.”

He added: “Mary was an administrative supervisor who was also the woman behind Eastern Suffolk Cardiology, she always held it high. There is not a staff member who is not devastated at the loss of our colleague and friend. Mary did not have a mean bone in her body. She solved everyone's problems with a smile on her face and in her voice. Mary will live in our memory forever.”

Both George and Mary, friends said, were proud of their son, his wife Kristal and their children, Grayson and Hayden.

George had painted his grandchildren's nicknames on his motorcycle, Dunleavy said. “He was proud of his son and when he had grandchildren, that's all he talked about. Going to see his grandchildren. If he wasn't here in eastern Long Island, he was in Massachusetts visiting family.”

Tocci, an EMT whose brother Scott was riding with the Worthingtons before the crash, said the Worthington, Tocci, Pace and Hintze families have all been friends for generations. “We consider each other family,” he said.

“It's devastating,” she said, adding that she too headed to New Hampshire after the crash to be there for Joseph. “As expected, everyone is having an extremely difficult time. We're all used to George taking control of every scene — not wasting a moment to save a life. He never thinks he's going to need help.”

The loss cuts deep, he said. “EMS is a small world and George was known throughout the EMS community. Our families grew up together. My dad and his dad were friends as well.”

It's hard to fathom the grief experienced by the couple's son Joseph, as well as his brother Tochi and his wife, who were all there when the crash happened, he said. “Just pray for them. It's extremely difficult what they saw.”

Still, Tocci said, George's legacy will live on. Stories flood in from those whose lives he touched.

One woman wrote on Facebook: “He saved my life on my dining room floor. He brought me back three times. I'm here today because of him. His dad helped build my house. Fly high George.”

Tocci added, “He was truly amazing in EMS. He and I had CPR saves, delivered babies and everything in between. These stories warm my heart.”

Tocci wrote a message on Facebook after the tragedy: “Say a prayer today for Joseph Worthington as he struggles with the loss of not only his parents but his best friends. We all know George as the icon of EMS but the only thing who His beautiful family loved more than helping others. They did everything together. George and Mary adored him as a child and would always praise how proud they were of him as he grew into such a wonderful man, husband and father.”

There was never a moment he spoke with them “that Joey wasn't brought up,” Tocci said. “George always said how lucky he was. Joey was always first in our conversations, until he blessed them with their beautiful grandson Grayson, followed by their beautiful granddaughter Hayden. Joey had to sit back as they showed the pictures of the beautiful their grandchildren. Then they told stories about the wonderful time they had with Joey and his wonderful wife Kristal. They enjoyed every moment they had with their family and even though their lives were tragically cut short, they lived life to the fullest.”

He added: “No one had a bigger or brighter smile than George Worthington, Jr.—it was contagious and could warm a room. Let's all try to be a little more like them and help our neighbors like he always did.”

Dunleavy also remembered his friend's smile and cheerful demeanor — the joy he and Mary found in their life together.

“He died doing what he loved to do,” Dunleavy said. “He loved spending time with his family and riding motorcycles — and sadly, he died doing both.”

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