George Washington Bugbee

George Washington Bugbee, 67, of Los Gatos, California, passed away unexpectedly on July 13, 2026.

George was born on March 24, 1959, in New York City, to Charles and Virginia Bugbee, and grew up in northern New Jersey. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, where he played in the marching band. During his college summers, he followed his father, grandfather, and older brother into the stagehand trade, working sound on Broadway — most memorably on Pippin and Evita. He went on to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree and met the love of his life, Linda Kladde. They married in 1985.

George practiced anesthesiology in Pennsylvania and Richmond, Virginia, and over a 25-year career was known for his kindness to patients and colleagues alike. After retiring in 2010, he and Linda moved to the Bay Area in 2017 to be closer to their son and grandchildren, who were the joy of his later years.

George was an adventurous cook who explored cuisines from around the world, with a particular love of Cajun food — though his grandchildren would tell you nothing ever topped his spaghetti and meatballs. He was a die-hard New York Yankees fan from his New Jersey boyhood. He and Linda traveled the world chasing total solar eclipses, standing in the moon's shadow everywhere from Mongolia to Egypt to Indonesia. Music ran through his whole life: first playing saxophone, trumpet, and flute in his younger years before taking up the guitar after retirement. He and Linda played together at Saratoga Retirement Community, and his band, Heartstrings, brought music to Livermore nursing homes weekly. He was happiest with a guitar in hand and a song to sing, and loved watching a room light up at the first notes of an old favorite.

He was also a born storyteller. Anyone who knew him heard the one about walking the dogs at night and coming face to face with a mountain lion — a story in which nothing much happened beyond a slow, careful backing away, yet he somehow made it funnier every time.

George's faith was at the center of it all. He was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, where he served as a lector.

George is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Linda; his son, Matt, and daughter-in-law, Sarah, of Saratoga; and his adored grandchildren, Luke, Anna, Charles, and Margaret. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Virginia, and his brothers, Charles and Brian.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 31, at 9:15 a.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., with Fr. Benedict presiding. Interment will take place at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga, with a reception afterward at Sacred Heart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Parish  https://tinyurl.com/SHParishgift  or World Central Kitchen  wck.org/donate 

"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:21