George Joseph McElroy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 3 October 1938, the son of George and Marion McElroy. When he was three years of age his family moved to Braintree, a suburb of Boston, where George lived until he entered the United States Military Academy. As a youth, he was an outstanding student, graduating ninth in his high school class, and a competitive athlete who excelled in ice hockey, basketball, and cross country running. He was also an expert marksman and a member of the National Rifle Association. 

At the Academy, George particularly enjoyed playing on the hockey team, and he became considerable better than average in other sports, including golf and handball. Upon graduation, he went to fort Sill for Artillery training and then served at Fort Devens while seeking considerable service in Alaska. George transferred to the Ordnance Corps and somehow greatly improved his golf game while completing the Career Course at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Subsequently, he was assigned to Springfield Arsenal in Massachusetts where he worked on development systems. Upon assignment to Vietnam, he worked with the Military Assistance Command until reassigned to work on field tests and extension of the weapons systems developed at Springfield. 

George resigned from the Army in 1969 as a major. His decorations 
included the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He returned to the Boston area, continued service in the Army Reserve and also served as a West Point representative on the South Shore of Massachusetts, screening candidates for the Academy. Initially he worked as business manager of a family owned company. In 1973, he joined Sun Life Insurance Company of Canada, as organizer and director of planning and research of its United States operations. He was promoted to senior administrative officer in 1979; assistant vice president, Agency Operations in 1983; and vice president, Information Systems in 1987. Art Lock, a Sun Life vice president and colleague of George, described him as “a good organizer with strong business skills, but his personal skills were outstanding.” Bob Bonner, another Sun Life vice president and close friend, said of George, “To sum up George in one sentence, he epitomized the word integrity. He was a caring individual who, in an unselfish way was always giving to others and never asking for anything in return. George in a very subtle but deliberate manner was a leader.” Undoubtedly his experiences at West Point and his; military training had a tremendously positive impact upon his success in the private sector. 

George did post-graduate work at Texas A & M University  and Boston University.

In Duxbury, he was director of the Boosters Club, and a director and coach of Duxbury youth hockey. He was secretary of the Duxbury Lions Club and a member of American Legion Post 223. He was an extremely good amateur photographer and won several local tennis championships.

George is survived by his wife, Susan (McClure) McElroy, a son and daughter, George and Wendy; three stepdaughters, Lisa, Annette and Sarah; his mother; a brother, Joe; and two sisters,  Mary Jane McEnroe and Helen E. Haughey; as well as several nieces and nephews.