George Frank Bednar

George Bednar, 82, of Aurora Colorado passed away on January 5, 2026 after a brief illness. Born in Chicago, Il on April 18,1943 to Walter and Natalie Bednar, George attended a trade high school in Chicago and began working for the phone company at age 17. He worked his way up to third-tier technical support for 2BESS, OSPS switches, and 5ESS switches and was very proficient at reading C and C++ code. George was an excellent problem-solver and well-respected in his field. He retired at age 63 after 43 years of service to the same company. Outside of work, George loved crossword puzzles and playing in pool leagues (both 8 and 9 ball). He played in over 1,000 matches and ran his branch in the league. George married Robin Phinney in April 1982, meeting her at a work training as they both worked in telecommunications. He and Robin enjoyed their long marriage, notably traveling to exotic locations such at Akumal, Mexico, Bonaire, Hawaii, and Bali for scuba diving. About 17 years ago, they were introduced to the wonderful world of purebred dogs and acquired their first Pharaoh Hound Ibi (2009-2018), who paved the way for subsequent Pharaoh Hounds in their lives: Nuri (2012-2025), Copper (2007- present), and Jasper (2021- present). George was quite competitive and enjoyed attending dog shows and lure coursing events throughout the USA – driving the dogs and Robin to all the competitions. George has driven hundreds of thousands of miles and faithfully supported his dogs’ efforts. George experienced his dogs winning multiple Best in Specialty Shows, a Reserve Best in Show, countless Group placements, and most notably Copper winning Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in NYC in February 2025. George relished seeing Copper show at Madison Square Garden. He was a fixture at the PHCA events and will be deeply missed. George was well known for his kindness and genuine care of others. He always had a supportive word and made sure those he met were safe during their travels. George is preceded in death by his parents, sister Peggy and brother Arthur. In lieu of flowers, Robin has requested donations be made to Colorado Lure Coursing Association or the Pharaoh Hound Club of America Rescue – both organizations near and dear to George’s heart.