Gorgeous George: remembering Hall-of-Famer George Eiferman, who passed away on February 12

Flex, June, 2002 by Joe Roark

George Eiferman, 1948 Mr. America and 1962 Mr. Universe, born November 3, 1925, in Philadelphia, died February 12, 2002, at 6:30 PM in Las Vegas, Nevada, his home for the past few decades.

That morning at 9:30, George suffered a seizure, which required that he be taken to a hospice, the Odyssey Harbor House in Las Vegas. Although he had cheated death nearly two dozen times before -- once overcoming blood pressure that had dipped to 40 over 10 -- it was not to be this time. The 76-year-old hero to many surrendered to his 20 years of heart trouble. Ironically, it may have been George's aversion to taking pills (even for high blood pressure) that caused his failing health. He simply did not want to take pills, perhaps because they seemed "artificial" to him.

George's son, Shawn, had visited to say good-bye the previous night, and his daughter, Leah, had spoken to her father recently. Both had said good-bye on many occasions before, only to see their father pull through. But these farewells would be final.

With George during his last moments were 1953 Mr. Muscle Beach Dominic Juliano and his wife, Carol, Gordy Margulis, and the lady who had never really left George's side, his former wife, Bonita Gail. Although their 10-year marriage had ended, their love had not.

GEORGE THE YOUNGER

There's a famous photo of a young George holding a 135-pound barbell overhead with one hand and playing a trumpet with the other. That always-inspiring image demonstrated his casual, happy and strong attitude toward life. It was no most-muscular pose, just a smile as he stood in the sand making music in various forms.

George had a wonderful career muscle, which began by training onboard ships while he was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He had signed up for duty on his 17th birthday and claimed that after a year of training; his appearance had changed so much that his mother did not recognize him when be came home on leave!

By 1947, Eiferman was indeed "shipshape," and his inclination to compete met with success as he won his hometown title, 1947 Mr. Philadelphia, on March 29. He guest posed a couple of times that spring before jumping into the major league muscle mix with Steve Reeves, Eric Pedersen, Joe Lauriano and John Farbotnik at the 1947 Mr. America. All those men placed ahead of George, but fifth in a first try at Mr. America was a good start!. He would face Pedersen and Farbotnik at the Mr. Universe in Philadelphia, and although he was the audience favorite, he placed out of the top three.

In March 1948, George finished second to Jack Delinger at the Mr. Western America in Los Angeles, took the Mr. California in April, and one month later won the Mr. America, edging Delinger into second place!

George Eiferman's final contest -- the 1962 IFBB Mr. Universe -- ended in victory for him.

I had stopped to meet George at the home of his ex-wife, Bonita, a few years ago in Las Vegas. Bonita had been caring for George since 1998 as his health failed. Bonita refers to George as "a wonderful person whose spirit belongs to the universe." George showed me photos from his days on the road with Mae West in the '50s, from his days of competition and of his various gyms, which had been Las Vegas mainstays. Even though George was not well, his structure was broad-chested and wide-shouldered, and it would remain so until the end, prompting his physician's amazement that a man unable to train heavily for many years could maintain such a physique.

As we sat sorting through two boxes of photos in his living room, George's smiling eyes revealed the instant replay that was happening in his mind. I knew he was reliving memories of the various gyms he had owned, of fellow competitors, and of exotic places he had visited in the name of muscle and for the cause of fitness.

George appeared in the movie The Devil's Sleep, starring Lita Grey. He is on the cover of Marla Matzer Rose's 2001 book Muscle Beach, and he made the covers of many muscle magazines. Always smiling -- there was none of the trash talk we hear these days.

For many years, George traveled America, speaking to assemblies of high-school students and espousing the. benefits of exercise and a sound lifestyle. He would drive a car until 200,000 miles had accumulated and then buy another one. Hawaii was the only state he missed on these travels.

In the March 2000 issue of FLEX, George was inducted into Joe Weider's Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. We have not had a more deserving inductee. In his day, there was more of a fraternal feeling among competitors. Winning was not everything, it was incidental; competing was the goal. Big money was not at stake; he was competing against friends.

A memorial service in Las Vegas on Friday, February 15, was followed by his burial at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada. George's service to America in the Navy yielded some of his proudest memories, and he wanted to be laid to rest in Veterans Memorial Cemetery. One suspects that George sneaked his trumpet into heaven, just in case Gabriel needs to take a break now and then.