George 'Georgie' Earl Bruce Starks, Jr.

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George ?Georgie? Earl Bruce Starks, Jr.

Jan. 14, 1971 ~ Sept. 8, 2017

George Earl Bruce Starks, Jr., commonly referred to as “Georgie,” was a most uncommon man. He somehow managed to walk the earth for 46 years without doubting the inherent goodness of humankind.

Georgie debuted on Jan. 14, 1971 in Two Rivers, Wisc., the oldest son of Jane and George Starks, Sr. In 1975, the family moved to Salt Lake City.

After graduating from East High School in 1989 he attended Gonzaga University. He returned to Salt Lake with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, lifelong friends, and a voracious appetite for making a difference.  

He became the Utah producer for the Slamdance Film Festival.  He became engrained in the education publishing world, developing a leading series in summer learning activity books. He started Active Planet Kids, an active lifestyle and educational company focusing on the development of the whole child.

Always one to have many irons in the fire, he opened Blue Star Juice & Coffee Café.  He was driven to create a healthy, inclusive, welcoming spot.  He succeeded. He was so grateful for the employees who continued to keep the Café a successful community gathering place for good coffee and conversation while he was sick.

Overwhelmingly, however, Georgie’s legacy is the man he was as son, brother, uncle and friend. To his parents, he was an incredible model of bravery and strength, supporting them through the darkest times, even during his own sickness.  To his siblings, he was a selfless confidante and loyal friend; his love for them ran deep and unconditional.

His nine nieces and nephews each knew him to be a source of encouragement and low-level monkeyshines.  Maleah, Gabriel, Jon David, Joseph, Noah, Maddie, Grace, Sophie, and Lucy were each loved fiercely and openly by their Uncle Georgie.  

His force of love was on full display when his little brother, Michael, died in 2008 during a fraternity hazing.  The first to forgive, he guided us in our search to heal our souls and again see the beauty in life.  

Georgie is survived by his parents, Jane and George Starks (Anacortes, WA); his girlfriend, Sydney Freeman; his sisters Kelly (David) Terrill (Mesa, AZ), Megan Starks (Seattle, WA) and Mary (Mark) Reiss (Scottsdale, AZ); brother, Jason (Shayneh) Starks; Grandpa Michaels; numerous aunts; uncles; cousins; countless friends; and his whiskered buddy Black Eye.

He was preceded in death by his little brother, Michael Anthoney Smallwood Starks; grandmothers Elizabeth Michaels and Elizabeth Starks; grandfather George Starks; aunts Mary Beth, Weebee and Nellie; and cousin and goddaughter Regina Sahami.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, Sept. 15 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

Arrangements entrusted to his family. Online condolences may be offered to the family and a tribute video slideshow may be viewed at www.starksfuneral.com.