George Tyler, 88

George Tyler, of Laconia, passed away on March 25, 2025. He was 88 years old.

He was born on May 11, 1936, in Bryn Athyn, Pennslvania, to George Theodore Tyler and Gertrude (Price) Tyler. He attended the Academy of the New Church schools, where he met his wife, Sharon "Cherry" Synnesvedt. The high school sweethearts married in 1957, and remained together for 68 years. They quickly started a family, having three children, Lynn, Philip and Tamberly.

In 1957, George earned a degree in arboriculture from the University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture while simultaneously working for New England Tree Experts, a division of the Asplundh Company. While working as an arborist, he became familiar with the first “cherry picker,” an aerial bucket truck made by SkyWorker Manufacturing. Seeing an opportunity, he jumped from climbing trees to selling the SkyWorker for the PC Gould Co. in Essex, Connecticut. When the northern New England territory became available in 1968, he moved to Merrimack.

George founded Consolidated Utility Equipment Inc. (CUES) the same year. CUES grew to be the major supplier of aerial buckets, wood chippers, cranes and related truck equipment in the Northeast. In the 1970s and 1980s, when telephone and cable services were brought to rural northern New England, it was done with equipment assembled, supplied and serviced by CUES Inc. Over the years of growth, George provided jobs for hundreds of people in locations throughout New England and New York. George served as president of the National Arborist Association and was an active member of Rotary International.

George retired in 1990, and he and Cherry moved to a house on Lake Winnisquam that was enjoyed by family and friends for years. He and Cherry also began traveling throughout Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the USA. George and Cherry also became snowbirds in their later years and enjoyed their home on Anna Maria Island, sharing 5 o’clock cocktails with many visiting friends and family.

During his life, George pursued many interests and was a lifelong skier, boater, motorcycle enthusiast and aviator. As a pilot he enjoyed flying recreationally. More interestingly, he built and flew two experimental kit planes: a Capella XST and an RV-6. He also owned and flew an open-cockpit Air Command gyroplane. It is a wonder to all how he lived to be 88.

George is predeceased by his much-loved daughter Lynn, and brother Carson.

He leaves behind his wife Cherry of Laconia; children Philip and Carol Tyler of Hollis, Tamberly Tyler of Derry; brothers Michael Tyler and Nick Tyler; sister Martha "Molly" Tyler; as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He also leaves many friends in Laconia, Merrimack, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and Anna Maria Island to enjoy the memories of the man and his long and full life.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.