George Michael Spini passed peacefully at home Friday, July 11, 2008, after a long battle with heart disease.

Born February 21, 1930, to Ben and Romilda Spini in Arcata, CA, he graduated from Arcata High School and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He moved to Ferndale in 1956 where he was a Dairyman until his retirement in 1994.

Known around town as “The Voice of the Wildcats”, George was the public address announcer for Ferndale High Football since the early 1970’s. Aside from the love for his family, George’s greatest source of pride in life came from Wildcat Football. From August until December every year if you wanted to have a conversation with George, you’d better be prepared to talk about the ‘Cats, as no matter what group of kids were on the field during any given year, those young men were his passion, as well as an enormous source of joy in his life. George was also very passionate about the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and even though those teams may not have always filled his days with the kind of joy he received from his beloved Wildcats, he never missed a game, even if he spent most of it yelling at the television!

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Joyce; his four children, Richard and his wife Jane, Ronald and his wife Monica, Michael, and Lynda; and his seven grandchildren, Annie, Celeste, Talia, Maggie, Nick, Jill and Greg. He is survived by his two siblings, Ben and his wife Pat, Betty Deacy and her husband Ted, and two sister’s-in-law, Dolores Bell and Gaylene Dudal. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Ben and Romilda Spini, his mother and father-in-law Hans and Emma Dudal, his sister Mary Taylor, his sister-in-law Evangeline Phillips, and his nephew Matthew Barnes.

A special thanks to Hospice of Humboldt, all of George’s Pedro buddies at Papa Joes, his wonderful neighbors of Emerson Lane, and his amazing friends and family for making George’s last months so peaceful and magically full of love.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on 08/08/08 at 1 p.m. at the Spini Family home, 402 Emerson Lane, Ferndale. All friends and relatives are invited to attend.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Mortuary, Eureka, CA. Memorial contributions can be made in care of the Ferndale High School Football Program.