George Basch

George Francis Basch, age 86, passed away after a long and well-lived life.

An avid traveler, "Explorer George" stepped foot on all 7 continents, visiting roughly 75 countries, and made friends around the world. The seeds of George's love of international travel began early, with a trans-Atlantic voyage as an infant. His prescient parents, Felix and Annie (née Urban), foresaw Hitler's impending march on Austria and escaped with their infant son, emigrating to the United States.

George grew up in Chicago, and spent his working life in New York, Denver, Anchorage, and Phoenix, before finally settling in his beloved Taos, NM.

George was predeceased by his children, Paul and Susan, and is survived by his stepson Christopher and first cousins once and twice removed.

George was an active philanthropist, supporting his local Rotary Club, active in the Explorer's Club of America, and the alumni club of his alma mater, MIT. To honor the memory of his son, George started a foundation that became The Himalayan Stove Project, which delivered clean-burning stoves to families in Nepal, eventually impacting over 40,000 lives. When a natural disaster rendered continuing those efforts untenable, George pivoted the foundation's direction to Champions of the Planet, which continues to fund environmental causes. Donations in George's memory can be made to Champions of the Planet at https://championsoftheplanet.org/ which also provides steps all we can take to save the planet Explorer George so loved.

A celebration of life will be held later this Spring.