George Bigham

GEORGE FRANCIS BIGHAM SR., PGA LM left us for the big Masters Golf Course in the sky on Sunday, January 25, 2015. He is survived by his beloved wife, Anita M. Magovac-Bigham and adored children Bonnie Bigham (partner the late Kevin Quinn) (Naples, FL), Gary Bigham (Kathy) (Naples, FL) and the late George Jr. (Maria) (Cleveland). Devoted to grandchildren Noah, Emily, Gabrielle, and Chase.  Survived by his adopted third son, David Bernstein (Candy) (Scottsdale, AZ).  Loving brother-in-law to Mark (late Kathy) Magovac.  Preceded in death by brothers Jack and James and parents George and Lola.  Supported by his dear business partners/family through the years, Rod Johnson PGA (Sandy) (The Answer and Palm Springs Golf Academy), Kevin and Ann Hyland (Bigham-Hyland Golf Company – artificial greens),  the late Bob Hamrick (Dottie) (Blind Gold Program at the Cleveland Sight Center – Golf Without Handicap), Charlie (Gayle) Stock PGA and the late Phil Ross (Balanced Putter), Bob Bourne (Mary) (Double Flex clubs), and Nic Paez Radius Teaching Aid, the FIRST TEE of Cleveland – Board and Children. George proudly served his country in the United States Army.   He was an active member of the PGA of America and the PGA TOUR and received many accolades for his playing ability, teaching and activism for change in the PGA.  George’s spirit brought much love and better golf through the generation to the members of the OAKWOOD COUNTRY CLUB, Cleveland Hts., from where he retired as Head Golf Pro, but continued to teach and support his loved membership and then migrated efforts to the Mayfield Club. He was dedicated to his Oakwood girls – Mitzie, Marilyn, Daurine, Doris and Gail and Chris Mancuso. He was known as the Dean of Northern Ohio Golf and taught numerous golf assistants the elements of playing and teaching golf as well as the rules of living a good life.

George was a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he played amateur golf. He was devoted to his family.  Golf was his passion.  He was a sixty year member of the PGA.

The family would like to thank Dr. Daniel Sullivan, Dr. Vlad Vekstein, and Dr. Doug Ripkin for all their care through the years.

The family requests no flowers please and to support a memorial donation to George’s passion of improving the lives of children through the vehicle of Golf at the First Tee of Cleveland, c/o Pat LoPresti, 3841 Washington Park Blvd., Newburg Hts., OH 44105.

Funeral services Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at the funeral home at 11 AM. A Celebration of his life will occur immediately following the service at the Mayfield Club, South Euclid, OH to celebrate an extraordinary life well lived. Private burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of George at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) THURSDAY 3-5 AND 6-8 PM.