Obituaries
George Geoffrey “Jeff” Durkota, 89
George Geoffrey “Jeff” Durkota, 89, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home. He was born in Pittsburgh ,PA.
Jeff was preceded in death by his wife, Doris (Dittman) Durkota, in 2001.
A WWII Veteran with the US Army, he was stationed in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division as a Ski Trooper.
Jeff graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1948. An All American running back for the undefeated 1947 Cotton Bowl team, Jeff was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL and the Buffalo Bills of the All American Conference. He then played one season for the Los Angeles Dons.
He was a member of the Lancaster Liederkranz and enjoyed traveling to Germany, Switzerland and other areas of Europe and would often travel to the annual Oktoberfest.
An automobile enthusiast, he was in the auto business his entire life. Jeff was Chairman of Brubaker Chrysler Jeep up until his death. He was a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association, Antique Car Club in Hershey, the Pennsylvania Automobile Association, the Hamilton Club of Lancaster and the Commercial Travelers Association of Lancaster.
Surviving a son, Bill Durkota, husband of Linda, of Lancaster, two daughters, Georgia Durkota, of Beverly Hills, CA, Carole “Barrett” wife of Robert A. Brandt, Jr., of Lancaster, six grandchildren, Robert A. Brandt III, husband of Kathryn, of Lancaster, Geoff Brandt, husband of Melissa, of Salt Lake City, UT, Erica, Christian, Marie, and Lindsey Durkota, all of Lancaster, three great grandchildren, Robert A. IV and Emiline G. Brandt, and Elliott R. Brandt. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Henry C. Brandt.
A Gathering to Celebrate Jeff’s Life will be held in the Chapel at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 3110 Lititz Pike on Monday, March 11, 2013 from 7-9PM. A private Graveside Service will be in Landis Valley Mennonite Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jeff’s memory to the Lancaster Liederkranz c/o Scholarship Fund 722 S. Chiques Rd Manheim, PA 17545 or to Hospice & Community Care 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604. To send the family online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Geoff was a great guy. He always made me feel welcome in your home and in all my visits to Brubaker Motors. I will miss him.
Barry Solodky
Durkota’s And Brandts,
I heard feom Geoffrey Brandt today about Opa and wanted to pass our condolances on to you and your family. He was a great person and our heart is with you guys. Very sorry for your loss.
Matt And Cepi Miles
Durk, Barrett, and Georgia. This world was a better place because of your father. He had a great wife ,great kids and a great zest for life because he was the essence of what a human being should be. I, like you will surely miss him, the best thing for us to do is try to emulate him , which is a tall order. I am a better person for having known him and your mom. So instead of grieving I hope all of us celebrate the great life he lived and hopefully try to use the compass he showed us to project some of those qualities to those we touch going forward.
Warm Regards,
Mike Byrne
Bill my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.Michael Bull
Margaret and Andrew Garrety want to express our condolences to your family and your family will be in our prayers
The Garrety family
Durk,
Your dad always went out of his way to say, "Hello," and talk a little football. He was always most welcoming whenever I saw him.
He will be missed.
Don Carr
My deepest sympathy for the passing of Mr. Durkota. I worked for him in 1980. I learned a great deal from Jeff and have the utmost respect for him. He was a brilliant man.
Ken Hoover
Dear Bill and family,
Thank you for reaching me, all be it, to give me the news of the loss of my great uncle Jeff. My mother, Joanne Testa, always made a point of stopping by the dealership in Lancaster to see Uncle Jeff on our way to the Jersey beaches when young. Uncle Jeff would give us a certain amount of money, which although, at the time, not "a fortune", to my brothers and I it seemed like it. Needless to say, we came to love stopping in Lancaster to see Uncle Jeff! I feel fortunate to have had the time together, and in more recent years, Uncle Jeff would come and visit me in Chestertown,on one trip telling me he got a speeding ticket going 75 mph! He and my mother were very close, as Uncle Jeff was brother to my mother’s mother. Uncle Jeff’s mother, my great-grandmother was quite a character, who lived to be 98 years old. It is easy to see the connection between mother and son.My sincere sympathy to all.
Dr. Beverly M. Glass
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff’s Family and the employees of Brubaker Motors
Darrell and Cathy Bishop
Bishop’s Services
Willow Street, PA
Bill,Georgia,and Barrett,
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. I wish I had gotten to see him in Lancaster but he always seemed to be in Germany in the Fall.
Have fond memories at the shore and his great sense of humor.
With deep sympathy,
Rob Berner
A great friend and mentor that helped me in my career for 30+ years. They don’t make men like this anymore, and I am truly saddened with his passing. God bless all the Durkota Family in your time of sorrow. Take pride in the Father and Grandfather you all had. Truly an accomplished man that we all looked to for guidance and support.
We will all miss you Jeff!
Jim Lawn
Chrysler Financial – Retired
God Bless Him.
Julie and Bob Garbini
Delta Upsilon, ’69
Penn State University
Barrett and Bob, My condolences to you both and your families. Fred Teschner
