WAYNE – George W. Bardaglio Jr., 67, of Wayne, died while doing what he loved on April 11, 2022.

He was born in Hartford, Conn. on August 11, 1954, the son of the late George W. Bardaglio Sr. and Mary Frances (White) Bardaglio.

George grew up in Suffield, Conn. and lived in Wayne for the last 45 years. He graduated in 1972 from Suffield High School and in 1976 received his B.A. in Economics from Bates College, where he met his future wife, Wendy Ault of Wayne.

George was an exceptional athlete in high school and college. He received the Meade Alcorn Outstanding Athlete Award at Suffield High School in 1971 and 1972 and graduated with 11 varsity letters in cross country, basketball, and track. The last shot of his high school basketball career was a midcourt, nothing-but-net shot at the end of the game that wowed the crowd. At Bates College, George concentrated on perfecting the Fosbury flop, and he held the indoor high jump record (6 foot 8 1/4 inches) there until 1990. George maintained his love for basketball long after graduating from Bates, playing in the local under-40s league, coaching his son Will’s 3-on-3 team, and cheering on Will and his daughter Christine at their travel-team and high school games. When Will played on the Colby-Sawyer College varsity team, George rarely missed a game.

After starting his career in home building working for Ed Jackson, George founded Androscoggin Builders, Inc. in 1980, exhibiting his talent and craftsmanship in the design and construction of quality homes, custom cabinetry, and expert upgrades throughout Central Maine. He also undertook many construction projects outside of homebuilding, including at Camp Androscoggin. George secured a well-earned reputation for integrity, listening carefully to his clients, and actively overseeing each one of the company’s projects. Committed to the well-being of his local community, he served on the Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corporation board of directors.

George was an avid fly fisherman and took great pride in tying his own flies. He loved the Maine backcountry, lakes, and rivers, and spent many days in the summer camping and canoeing while on fishing expeditions with longtime friends Richard Behr and Tom McDowell, who shared his passion for the outdoors and together made annual pilgrimages in the fall to the Lochsa River and north branch of the Clearwater in Idaho. His brother David regularly joined him for outings on the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. In the winter, George often hit the slopes to go skiing, a sport he learned along with his brothers under the tutelage of their father, who put them on skis as soon as they were big enough to handle the rope tow and poma lift at ski areas in the Berkshires and Vermont.

Devoted to his family, George enjoyed more than anything spending time with his children and grandchildren, sharing with them his enthusiasm for life and wry sense of humor. His finely honed skill for storytelling provided his family and friends with many years of laughter. It was evident to everyone who knew him that his kindness, generosity, understanding, and empathy made the world a much better place.

George is survived by his wife, Wendy Ault; daughter, Christine (Bardaglio) Myers and her husband Bryan of Catawba, S.C., and son, Will Bardaglio and his fiancée Genny Moore of Charlotte, N.C.; his two brothers and their wives, Peter and Wrexie Bardaglio of Trumansburg, N.Y., and David Bardaglio and Ellen Wollensack of Burlington, Vt.; his four grandchildren, Brandon, Brayden, Brynn, and George IV (Liam); his cousin, Katherine Sidelsky of New Rochelle, N.Y.;

numerous nieces and nephews; and many loyal and caring friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert.

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at Hope Baptist Church in Manchester.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where memories and condolences may be shared with the family at https://khrfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/george-bardaglio.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Maine Rivers at https://mainerivers.org/donate-today/ or by mail to

Maine Rivers,

P.O. Box 782,

Yarmouth, ME 04096.

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