George Edward Tiggle

  George E. Tiggle, 45, of Niskayuna, NY,  Student Affairs Director of Development at the SUNY University at Albany, passed away suddenly in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 26, 2019 after being involved in a vehicular accident at the Massachusetts / New York border along the Berkshire Spur of I-90 while traveling home. 

   Born July 11, 1974 in Honolulu, Hawaii to US Army Sergeant Major Sherman E. Tiggle and Lenora Holland Tiggle, George was the second of  two sons born to that military family. In addition to residing in Hawaii, the family lived in Fort Dix, New Jersey, before relocating and purchasing a home in Chicopee, MA where George spent much of his childhood. 

  A gregarious and joyful personality, George is best remembered for bringing his immediate energy, smiles and laughter to everything and everyone he was involved with. George spent 18 years as a college admissions and recruitment professional for several colleges and prep-schools in the Northeast, including SUNY Albany, Union College, Sage College, Mercersburg Academy (PA) and the Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA) where George was a standout football player as a member of the Class of 1994. 

  George graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1998 with a B.A. in Africana Studies and Theatre. He was a popular and beloved member of the campus community. He was a member of the Union's football team and the Men's Track and Field team. While attending Union College, George made many lifelong friends, including Beta Pi  Lambda Chapter members Bro. Twitty Styles and Bro. George Smith who were members of the Union faculty, and future Alpha brothers, Idris Abdul-Aziz; Matt Fowles; Dean Akinyele; and Damon Carr. George treated everyone he encountered with love and he genuinely cared for others as if they were family. He held a special passion for mentoring and guiding young people and students. He spent many of his free hours volunteering as a youth football coach, and taking local students on various college tours.  After graduating Union College, George worked for several years in the Maryland area, where in 2001 joined the mighty Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, in Columbia, MD.  

  In 2003, after returning to the Capital Region, George developed into one of the region's most beloved members of the fraternity's Beta Pi Lambda Chapter. George was involved with the founding of the George Biddle Kelley Education Foundation, Inc., and all of the chapter's local fundraisers and social events. An avid fisherman, George and his brother Darryl arranged deep sea charter fishing excursions off the coast of Massachusetts and South Carolina, often inviting family,  Alpha brothers and other friends. His favorite catch was Tautog (Blackfish) and fluke or flounder, often returning with many pounds of fish for one of his family's famous fish fry's, in both New York and Massachusetts.

  In 2013, George earned a MS in Organizational Management from Sage Graduate School in Troy, NY and married Kendra McBride of Manchester Connecticut. The couple moved to Niskayuna, NY and a year later welcomed their only child, Kailee Summer Tiggle, to the family.  

  George is pre-deceased by his father Sherman, who passed away in 2005; he is survived by his wife Kendra; daughter Kailee Summer; mother Lenora Tiggle, of Chicopee, MA; brother, Sherman Darryl Tiggle and sister-in-law Geneva Riley Tiggle, both of Towson, MD; uncle, Waymond Beacher Holland of Suffolk, VA; Aunt Marie Williams, of Philadelphia, PA; Aunt, Onetia (Sue) Tiggle of Baltimore, MD, and many, many cousins and other extended relatives.

  Funeral services will take place at Georges alma mater Union College on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 at the Union College Memorial Chapel, Memorial Chapel, Schenectady, NY 12308. 

Calling hours are from 9:00 - 10:45 am and the funeral  service will begin at 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will be officiated by Rev. Damone P. Johnson, Sr. Pastor. 

   Flowers and condolences may be sent to S.L. McLaughlin Funeral Home, 1226 Broadway, Albany, NY 12204. (518) 465-2000.

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