ERVING — Last October, George F. Bush said that for his 99th year of life, he was looking forward to a successful New England Patriots season, not to mention turning 100 years old.
The Turners Falls High School sports legend got his wishes.
Bush, affectionately known as “Mr. Bush,” was born on Oct. 8, 1926, and has been a staple in the Turners Falls community his entire life. The centenarian celebrated the occasion on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the French King Restaurant in Erving.
Bush was surrounded by friends who spoke of his dedicated personality and devotion to an active lifestyle, all while donning a hat saying, “It took me 100 years to look this good,” and a customized birthday T-shirt proclaiming the No. 1 Patriots fan made it to his 100th birthday. The franchise was founded in November 1959, just weeks after Bush turned 33.
At Saturday’s celebration, Bush sat in a lounge chair next to what was jokingly called his “shrine” of photos of him throughout this life, along with his birthday cake and other mementos. Before Bush made his way inside to celebrate, Richard Therien waited to enter the restaurant with a framed photo in hand of his football team that Bush coached.
Therien, 85, said he sees Bush around once in a while in Turners Falls, with Bush remembering his former player. His hope on Saturday was to talk to his former coach, and hopefully jog his memory of his time coaching him and his teammates.
“I think it’s fabulous,” Therien said about Bush celebrating his 100th birthday. “Maybe he can live until I hit 100.”
Bush graduated from Turners Falls High School and served in World War II in 1944 and 1945. He became a teacher at the high school, retiring in 1982 after 30 years. He was also a longtime coach at the high school, formed and coached a Little League Baseball team, and served as the Unity Park playground director for 20 years.
After all this time, Bush remains an ardent supporter of high school sports, whether by attending games or donating money to the sports programs. He is the only surviving member of the 1942 Turners Falls High School baseball team that was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024.
Similar to Therien, Brian Lamore was once coached by Bush in the 1980s as a tennis player and is now a friend, helping him out where he can. Lamore, now a teacher at Turners Falls High School, said Bush made a lifelong impact on him as an athlete, and he carries a passion for tennis to this day.
Lamore was by Bush’s side for his 99th birthday last year, too, saying he provides inspiration to those around him.
“He’s really an inspiration to a lot of people,” Lamore said on Saturday. “I see the effort he goes through to get out to the games, and a lot of students he’s had over the years are now retiring, and I think he inspires them to get out to the games, get more active and involved.”
Bush’s dedication to sports and activity is something he shares with others who were in the room for his celebration, including Turners Falls High School coach Gary Mullins. Both he and Bush have sports fields in Turners Falls dedicated to them: the Gary Mullins Softball Field at the high school and the George F. Bush Ballfields in Unity Park.
As a fellow coach, Mullins said Bush “kept him on his toes,” asking about players on his team and getting into game statistics that Mullins would keep and show to Bush.
“He’s just a great supporter of the sports, and he’s still sharp as a tack,” Mullins said.
Seeing a fellow coach hit this milestone birthday, Mullins said, is “wonderful.” Mullins also emphasized just how dedicated Bush has been to the student athletes of Turners Falls for all these years.
On top of his dedication to other athletes, Bush explained that he himself keeps up his physical condition, strolling along the Canalside Rail Trail in Turners Falls, even with the aid of a walker after having three hip replacements. This kind of continued physical activity is what he believes has kept him around this long. Though, he noted he never got married, which he thinks may also be part of the equation.
Before the rest of the day’s festivities, Bush was given a special honor by the town of Montague for his longstanding dedication to the community. Selectboard Vice Chair Marina Goldman brought a citation to Bush to recognize him for his 100th birthday, which reads, in part, “Few people have the opportunity to see a full century of change in their hometown. Far fewer can say that they helped shape that community along the way.”
In reflecting on Saturday’s celebration, Bush said simply, “it’s unbelievable.”
As for his wish last year for a successful season for New England, the team managed a 14-3 record, reclaiming the AFC Championship title and securing an appearance in Super Bowl LX. Earlier this summer, Bush even went to a preseason game where the Patriots organization treated him to a new jacket and a chance to visit the team.
While it may have been a slow start to the season for the Patriots, Bush said he had to remain “optimistic” no matter what as the team headed to Highmark Stadium for the first of two divisional match-ups this season against the Buffalo Bills.
Maybe it was that optimism that led Bush’s team to victory last Sunday in Orchard Park once again.
