George Philip Garza

George Philip Garza, a dedicated engineer, well-rounded intellectual, and devoted family man, passed away after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on April 29, 1939, in San Antonio, Texas, to Rosario Santa Maria and Rodolfo Garza Schilling, George built a remarkable life defined by intellectual rigor, cultural passion, and unbridled joy.

George pursued his education in California, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from UCLA in 1961, followed by a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from USC in 1967. As a founding member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, he helped establish a nationally recognized network for Latino engineers. In the 1960s, George worked on defense projects at Point Magu under the Department of Defense. For more than six decades, George distinguished himself as a key contributor at TRW Inc., later bought off by Northrop Grumman, where his expertise shaped critical defense and aerospace projects. In the 1980s, his work on gyroscopic systems for the Gamma Ray Observatory contributed to its landmark 1991 launch. His successful career also led to his selection in 1984 to assist Italy’s space and defense program as part of a United States-Italy collaborative agreement.

Beyond his engineering legacy, George was a man of remarkable cultural breadth and passion. He was an accomplished saxophonist and a fluent speaker of seven languages—English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Catalan, and Portuguese. George was an accomplished dancer, performing Mexican Folklórico and world folk dances through his memberships in UCLA’s Grupo Folklórico and the Aman Folk Ensemble. A licensed pilot, he enjoyed flying out of Santa Monica airport, and he was an intrepid traveler whose journeys spanned Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America, with Italy remaining his beloved favorite destination, where he lived for over a year.

Through his final days, even amid his illness, George remained characteristically warm and joyful, expressing his love freely to those around him.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Ramona Cortes Garza, and their daughter, América R. Garza.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care at UCLA in memory of George. This organization contributed immensely to George’s care and support services throughout his battle with this disease.

Contact info:

Ramona Garza & América Garza

[email protected] – (310) 962-2275

4859 W Slauson Ave. #525, Los Angeles, CA 90056