SUNY Cortland Athletics

George Fuge, a native of Freeport, N.Y., graduated from Freeport High School. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in World War II with the the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division of ski troops in Italy and Austria. Fuge graduated from Cortland in 1949 where he also obtained a master's degree.

A faculty member at Suffern High School from 1949-1962, Fuge was named Rockland County Coach of the Year in football and wrestling. The wrestling teams he coached went undefeated for 11 consecutive seasons in league competition.

Fuge was director of Cortland's Outdoor Education Center at Raquette Lake from 1962-1975. Fuge was founder and past president of the New York State Outdoor Education Association, former member of the Steering Committee, and former member of the Task Force on the Future of Outdoor Education in New York State. Fuge was also president of the National Council on Outdoor Education, served as editor of the Council's professional journal, and served as a consultant for the New York State Department of Conservation and the New York State Education Department. He is a member of the Lifetime Sports Association Hall of Fame as well as serving as the elected Hamilton County representative to the Adirondack Conservation Council. Fuge was appointed by the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors to the New York State Region Five Fish and Wildlife Management Board where he served for 10 years.

In 1971 Fuge was honored with the New York State Outdoor Education Association's Golden Award for service and leadership as well as being named Cortland College Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus in 1976. In 1980 he was the winner of the Adirondack Conservation Council Service Award and in 1981 he was awarded the Adirondack Conservation Council "Conservationist of the Year." In 1982 Fuge was presented with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

George and Mugsy Fuge live year-round at the Raquette Lake site and have always been available to respond to the needs of program participants at the Center. Mugsy, a nickname well known among Raquette Lake alumni, is the former Marguerite E. Hart of Westbury, N.Y. She graduated from Cortland in 1951 majoring in physical education. George and Mugsy are the parents of three daughters: Heidi, Debbie and Jill.

As a student at Cortland, Fuge competed in football, track and field and skiing for three seasons each and was a team captain for track and field and skiing.

UPDATE: Fuge passed away on Nov. 8, 2009.