George Ernest Loss

   George Ernest Loss, loving husband, father, brother, uncle, “Poppy,” coach, neighbor, and mentor passed away September 7 at the age of 90 from COVID. 

   George was born in 1932 in Hartford, Arkansas, the youngest of five children born to George and Johanna Loss, who had immigrated from Tyrol, Austria.  Upon graduation from high school, George received a football scholarship from College of the Ozarks, where he played left guard in every game for four years and was named co-captain his senior year.  He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. 

   George coached and mentored scores of athletes and young people for 39 years before retiring in 1992. He started out his coaching career at St. Anne’s Academy in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he led the small, Class B team to seven undefeated seasons, garnering 100 wins in his first 116 games and earning the title of “winningest coach in Arkansas.” After coaching one year in Perryville, Missouri, Coach Loss and family relocated to Little Rock, where George went on to lead teams at Catholic High School for Boys, Bryant High School, North Little Rock Old Main, and Hall High. George Loss was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the University of the Ozarks in October 2017.

   George loved all things Arkansas, especially all Arkansas sports.  And he loved a good story; he could strike up a lively conversation with just about anyone.  He was a masterful handyman who enjoyed helping neighbors and upcycling used lawn mowers and other equipment, making friends in the process. He was a life-long member of Holy Souls Catholic Church and was known in the church and broader community as a great “go-to” guy who was always willing to lend a helping hand.

   George was a devoted family man. There was nothing he loved more than to be surrounded by his family, playing games, talking, or watching sports. He and his wife, Kathleen Ann (nee Fox), whom he married in 1958, raised four children, in whom they instilled values of hard work, devotion to God and duty, and a healthy sense of competition.

   George was extremely proud of his four children, whom he coached through life. Daughter MaryKay Carlson has been a U.S. diplomat for 37 years. She currently resides with her husband Aubrey Carlson in Manila, Philippines, where she is serving as the U.S. Ambassador, having been appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May this year. They have two daughters, Kathryn and Karen.

   Daughter Karen Loss resides with her long-time partner Chip Wood in Plano, Texas, where she works as Managing Principal of Lease Administration at Cresa. George Loss Jr. is an Abdominal Transplant Surgeon, Chief of the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, and Regional Medical Director at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he lives with his wife Tracy (nee Taggart). They have three children, Avery, Kaelin, and George III. Greg Loss is a commercial litigator and a partner at the law firm Herbert, Smith and Freehills in New York City, New York. He and his wife Eileen Mulrenin have four children: Maddie, Jeremy, Erin, and John.

   In addition to the family members above, George is survived by his sister MaryAnn Robinson of San Diego, California, and his niece Greta Hanson-Sohmer and nephew Alan Hanson, born to his sister Elizabeth Hanson, who preceded him in death. George was also preceded in death by his parents and two other siblings, John Loss and Margaret Cummings. 

   A rosary vigil and celebration of George’s life will be held Thursday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock.  A memorial mass will be held on Friday, September 16, at 10:30 a.m., also at Holy Souls.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Holy Souls Catholic Church. The funeral mass for George Loss will be livestreamed for those who are not able to attend in person.  Those who would like to watch should access the webpage for Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church (holysouls.org) just before the mass begins on Friday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m. central standard time.  Scroll down, click "Watch Mass Online," and it will be the first choice to watch.  Or you can Google "Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church YouTube channel," and when the memorial service is live, you will be able to watch it.