The Oregon Country Fair Board of Directors honors the passing of a cornerstone of the Fair community, whose vision, dedication, and contributions helped shape the Fair we know today.
George Braddock was a kind and charismatic person—someone who truly made a difference.
The early days of the Oregon Country Fair were primitive. Volunteers regularly had to leave the property and travel into town just to find a shower. George came to the Fair in 1976, saw a clear need, and offered a solution: he would build showers for the Fair. We gladly took him up on the offer, and the Ritz was born.
From that humble beginning, George grew the showers into a massive warren of group showers, private showers and baths, saunas, boilers, entertainment, and the extensive infrastructure required to run such a huge undertaking. Last year, new showers were added to better serve families with young children. And always, there was art—lots and lots of art. The Ritz is a beautiful place: a world-class masterpiece, truly one of a kind.
George got things done. His skills as a contractor were epic. He spent much of his life as a contractor and consultant, renovating homes for people with disabilities. This work was likely his greatest passion: caring for those who needed accommodation. The Ritz was his other great passion, where that same care found expression at the Fair and across the Oregon Country Fair community.
As George once said,
“Every day I look for ways to uplift the people I love and care for in my life in whatever way I can.”
George could not have done it without the Flamingo Clan—the OCF Sauna family. He drew people to him who believed in him and in the mission, and together they created the saunas, showers, music, and art that will continue to enrich the Fair for generations.
George served on the Board of Directors during the 1980s and again from 2017 to present. He brought much-needed leadership skills and institutional knowledge to the organization and willingly took on extra duties. When Craft Demonstration was located across from the Ritz, he handled most of the setup and takedown, found the beautiful tenting for the center, and built the stages. He was instrumental in the success of this popular and educational addition to the event.
He also helped get the auxiliary water system up and running when staff ran out of time, sculpted the communal space in front of the sauna into a beautiful and restful gathering place, and built the clamshell and the firepit out front. He contributed in countless ways to projects all ver the Fair.
George made a difference. He had a huge impact on the place we all call home.
George, we honor you and thank you. We will miss you, and we are deeply grateful for the enduring community and spaces you helped build.
Sincerely,
Oregon Country Fair Board of Directors