George B. McLaughlin, high school teacher

When George B. McLaughlin was a student at a small college in North Carolina in the early 1960s, he knew how to share his music.

"He was a DJ on the college radio station for two years," his wife, Maryann, said. And although what is now Pfeiffer University was affiliated with the United Methodist Church, his program was named George's Orgy.

In the school's town of Misenheimer, even as the Beatles were beginning their tidal wave, Mr. McLaughlin showcased his favorite: Elvis Presley.

"We have all the 45s that he played back then," she said of his radio program.

A piano player since he was 8 years old, he always played at sing-alongs at family parties.

"He really liked music and he was very sociable," she said, "and liked to teach people" about what he liked.

On Wednesday, May 11, Mr. McLaughlin, 72, of Bridgeton, who retired in 2002 after a 39-year career as a teacher at Bridgeton High School, died at Inspira Regional Medical Center in Vineland following complications from surgery.

In the 1980s and 1990s, his wife said, he was president of the Bridgeton Education Association, the labor bargaining unit.

In the 1960s he was its negotiations chair, in the 1970s and 1980s its grievance chair, and at times its newsletter editor.

He was a member of the Bridgeton City Council for eight years in the 2000s, a member of the Bridgeton Zoning Board in that decade, and, for the last two years, vice president of the Bridgeton Library Board.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from Bridgeton High in 1961 and earned a bachelor's in social science in 1965 at Pfeiffer.

Mr. McLaughlin spent his career at Bridgeton High, teaching seniors about U.S. history from World War II to the present. For the last decade of his teaching career he also taught economics to juniors and seniors.

In the 1980s, his wife said, he was a student government adviser.

Harvey Friedman, a Bridgeton High history teacher from 1969 until he retired in 2005, was history department chair for a time in the 1970s and in the 1990s.

He recalled Mr. McLaughlin as being "very collegial."

"I liked him a lot and we became friends" and remained so, Friedman said.

In the teachers' union, Friedman said, Mr. McLaughlin "was a very strong leader and we worked together for several years."

Besides his wife, Mr. McLaughlin is survived by son Brant, daughter Megan McLaughlin-Corey, and three grandchildren.

Visitations were set from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 15 and from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, May 16, both at the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St. Bridgeton, before an 11 a.m. funeral there. Interment was set for Fernwood Memorial Park in Hopewell Township.

Donations may be sent to the Bridgeton Free Public Library, 150 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton, N.J. 08302.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.freitagfuneralhome.com.

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