George Edward Teravainen 86, of Duxbury, died on Dec. 24.

Born on April 10, 1924, he was the son of Jaakko and Wihlemina of Finland and Duxbury. George was the youngest of eight children.

George was a graduate of Duxbury High school, class of 1942. During his high school career, he was captain of the baseball and basketball team; league champion basketball, ’41, 42. He was voted best male athlete of his graduating class. In 2005, he was inducted into the inaugural Duxbury High School Hall of Fame.

After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1942 – 1945. He studied diesel engines after which he served on the USS Adair as a Motor Machinist Mate, 3rd Class and received the World War II Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine-Liberation Medal.   After serving his country he attended Boston University for his undergraduate degree and Springfield College where he obtained his Masters degree in Education.

George was a past president of the Duxbury Rotary Club and served on the original North Hill study committee.

George was well-known to the Duxbury community as a physical education teacher, coach for soccer and basketball, and ultimately hired as athletic director and head of physical education department until his retirement. One of his coaching highlights was bringing his Duxbury High squad to the Eastern Massachusetts Interscholastic Basketball Tournament championship at the Boston Garden in 1962.  George was influential in the growth of new sports such as ice hockey at Duxbury High school during his tenure as athletic director.

George was also the director and owner, with wife Nancy, of Camp T, a summer day camp for over 100 children every year from 1954 through 1984.

After retirement, George enjoyed golf. As a member of Duxbury Yacht Club and North Hill, he played in many Member-Guest tournaments with his best friend Mike Connor.

He was the husband of 56 years to Nancy Burnham Teravainen. Father of Peter George and his wife Veronica of Singapore, Pamela White and her husband Bill of Herndon, Virginia, Paul Richard and wife Kathleen of Sandwich, Mass. and Charles Burnham of Duxbury. He also leaves eight grandchildren.

 Funeral arrangements by the Shepherd Funeral Home, Kingston, MA. There will be a memorial visitation on Thursday, Dec. 30 from 2-5 p.m. at United Methodist Church on High Street in Duxbury, MA 02332. Burial will be private and will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in George’s memory may be made to the Duxbury Boosters, St George Street, Duxbury, MA. 02332 or to the charity of one’s choice.