George David Julnes

On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, Dr. George David Julnes passed away a few weeks before his 67th birthday, surrounded by his family after a cardiac arrest. He lived in Albuquerque, where he was a professor at the University of New Mexico. The son of Marilyn and Norval Julnes, George grew up in Terrace Park and attended Mariemont High School. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Dr. Patria de Lancer Julnes; sons, Alexander Julnes, Thomas Sinan Siyahhan Julnes (Holly Julnes, San Diego, CA), and Dr. Peter Siyahhan Julnes (Dr. Yitong Du Delancer, St. Louis, MO); sister, The Rev. Cn. Noel Julnes-Dehner (Joe Dehner, Cincinnati, OH); his granddaughter, Delancey Du Delancer, St. Louis, MO; and nieces, Holly Julnes Dehner (Patrick Williams, Cincinnati, OH) and Sara Hayes (Patrick Hayes, Cincinnati, OH).

Although George's life was cut short, he lived to the fullest, with gratitude for the privilege of being alive and a sense of duty to leave the world a better place. George's favorite maxim was, "Life is good."

George loved his family unconditionally. Their mutual support of their careers led George and Patria to jobs in several states where they made life-long friends, a year-long family sabbatical in Spain, and numerous trips worldwide to present research. He was a constant, kind, and thoughtful presence in the lives of his three sons, never too busy to spend hours on the phone talking with them as they forged their own lives. His weekly phone call with Noel, catching up on the world and family events of the week, brought him joy. He was the glue that kept the extended family together. He made a point of maintaining the family bond with cousins in Olympia, WA, Portland, OR, and Molde, Norway. George cherished family life.

George poured his wisdom and dedication into his work as a professor, a consultant to government agencies, and in his extensive service to the program evaluation community. He was passionate about improving the human condition and overall social betterment. About to enter his second term as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Evaluation, the flagship journal of the American Evaluation Association, he approached the job as an editor and a mentor. His brilliant mind and kind heart led him to see potential in even the most undeveloped ideas. He spent innumerable hours writing letters to aspiring authors, even if the decision was to reject the manuscript or to suggest that it be sent to another journal. George applied this same principle in teaching. A rigorous but compassionate teacher, he always provided copious feedback for students so they could improve. George was equally invested in the relationships with former students, colleagues, and friends. He was always there when they needed him for mentorship, professional advice, or during times of personal hardship. His friends and colleagues admired him as a person with a high work ethic, a gifted program evaluation methodologist and theorist, and a gentle soul. In 2015 the American Evaluation Association awarded him the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award for his intellectual contributions to program evaluation theory.

He was forever intellectually curious (his favorite childhood book was Curious George) and naturally driven to become an expert about the subjects that interested him and those of the people he cared about. He could discuss the nuances of the current polarization in the United States, realist ideas, and Claude Monet's Impressionism at great length and depth. A beer connoisseur, he enjoyed beer tastings and delighted in discussing the provenance of Belgian Trappist beers. George was humble, cultured, generous, and brilliant and will be forever missed.

Striving always to grow, to build a better world, George knew to share in the wisdom of gardeners. He firmly believed that the best in all of us could blossom with love, care, and attention. In his family and his work, he never sought to impose dogma or methodology; you didn't have to believe what he believed; it was enough just to be good. George always felt the good in those around him. With the passing of such a loving caretaker, we must all try harder to see goodness in those around us, hidden as it may seem. Only then, together, can we begin to cultivate the best in others.

Services will be held on Friday, December 17, 2021, in Terrace Park, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the George Julnes scholarship fund at the American Evaluation Association (https://www.eval.org/Julnesfund) or to the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org).