Tribute To George Osmond
I just wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful man - George Osmond - who died today aged 90.
Because of George, we had (and still have) The Osmonds, because of The Osmonds and in particular for me, Donny.. there are hundreds of people now connected in love and friendship across the world. Because of them, I joined Donny’s fan club online a few years ago.. through that fan club I have met so many wonderful people who have become my friends.. they have done favors for me and I for them. I have friends in America who are so very dear to me and if it were not for the Osmonds and all they stood for - honesty, loyalty, never judging anyone, family values, so many things quiet apart from their Entertainment careers - I would never have come into contact with these people and been able to go to America and meet them.. these friends are now my lifeline..
So I thank you George for wanting the best for your family.. for wanting to pay to help your two eldest sons with their hearing.. if you and Olive had not decided to do that so many decades ago, there would never have been “The Osmonds” - I thank you for teaching your family the values they live by today and that we “40 somethings” all learnt about in our early teens, you gave us then a good guide and a good set of rules to live by.. we have all had hard times one way or another but had your example to follow and we took what we learnt with us into our adult lives and it helped so much.
A little ditty I heard about George and Olive - when The Osmonds were so famous over here in the UK in the 70’s - I heard that both Mother and Father Osmond (that is how they are known and referred to by both family and fans alike and its the way the Osmond want it) would often look out for the young teenage girls they would see on the streets of London, always stopping and making sure they were ok, could they get home, did their parents know where they were.. listening to the young teenagers stories, sometimes heartbreaking ones, keeping in contact with them via letters, so many things.
Olive Osmond created the “One Heart Foundation” for children and as well as looking after her own family she did a lot for many hundreds of children.
Their children are a wonderful tribute to them, when you meet up with an Osmond you are always treated with respect, never like a fan, in fact they like to call their fans, “Friends” - gosh I could go on and on here..
It is a very sad day, I have to say, I kind of thought George would always be around - silly I know… I will treasure the fact that in 2003 I was receiving some awards from Melaleuca in the UK and the awards were being presented by Donny, he had bought his Father over with him and Father Osmond sat in his wheelchair at the back of the huge room.. I was lucky enough to be getting several awards and so went up to get them from Donny and each time I had to work my way back to my seat, well on one occasion, I knew George was at the back, I managed to go by his wheelchair and I just kneeled down and said “Father, I do hope you don’t mind but may I please give you a kiss on the cheek?” and he said, of course you can my dear but why, and I just said, well just because.. I kissed his cheek and went on my way, I will treasure that memory.
So George, you will be so missed by many hundreds of people around the world - thank you for what you did, thank you for lending us your family and for the things you taught all of us.
The one comfort we all have is to know that now you are back in the arms of your sweetheart, Olive.
Sue - one of your friends
