George and Marie Deming: Six Decades of Service in Miami Lakes

Early Roots in a Growing Town (Since 1965)

George A. Deming (born 1931 in Danbury, Connecticut) and his wife Marie T. Deming (born 1935) planted their family’s roots in Miami Lakes in 1965, when the community was still in its infancy​. At that time, Miami Lakes was a brand-new master-planned suburb built on former dairy farmland, and the Demings were among its first residents. They moved into their home at 14515 Mahogany Court – a cozy 3-bedroom house built in 1965 – and quickly became part of the town’s foundational generation. Over the decades, as Miami Lakes grew from a sparsely developed area into an incorporated town of parks and winding lakes, George and Marie quite literally watched it all blossom around them. Neighbors recall the Demings fondly reminiscing about those early days, when tree-lined streets and the Main Street town center were starting to take shape​. Little did anyone know that this young couple would go on to help shape the community’s heart and soul for the next 60 years.

Founders of Youth Sports and Community Spirit

From the moment they arrived, the Demings dove into community life. George, a U.S. military veteran who had served his country (retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant​), brought a spirit of leadership and service to Miami Lakes. In the late 1960s – with a growing family of his own – he recognized the need for youth activities in the fledgling town. Along with a few like-minded neighbors, George became a visionary founding member of the Miami Lakes Optimist Club, a youth sports and enrichment organization​ in Miami Lakes. He played a key role in establishing the Optimist Club’s early programs and even helped build its very first clubhouse, which for many years was like a second home for Miami Lakes children​.

George’s contributions to local youth sports were truly pioneering. In the early 1970s, he served as the club’s Youth Work Director, coordinating all the volunteer coaches for the kids’ teams​. Under his guidance, Miami Lakes saw its first Little League baseball, basketball, and soccer programs take off​. He even spearheaded the creation of the “Opti-Mrs.”, a companion group of volunteers’ wives (including Marie) who organized cheerleading squads and team support, ensuring that girls had opportunities to participate and cheer alongside the sports teams. Marie herself was often one of these behind-the-scenes heroes, helping with uniforms, snacks, and morale for the young cheerleaders. The Demings’ involvement didn’t stop there: George was also instrumental in bringing the Special Olympics to Miami Lakes, helping organize events for youth with special needs. This early activism in youth sports not only provided healthy recreation for countless children but also seeded a tight-knit community spirit that still defines Miami Lakes today. Longtime residents recall seeing George out on the fields week after week – whistle around his neck – mentoring kids with patience and positivity, while Marie could be found in the concession stand or rallying parents to volunteer.

These efforts did not go unrecognized. In 2019, George Deming was honored as a “community pioneer” when he was inducted into the Miami Lakes Sports Hall of Fame​. At the induction ceremony (held fittingly at the Optimist Club clubhouse), town leaders praised George for his significant contributions to local sports and “substantial connections to the Town of Miami Lakes”​. This Hall of Fame honor – the town’s highest for sports and civic activism – cemented his legacy as one of Miami Lakes’ founding figures who built the youth sports programs from the ground up. Many of the organized leagues and traditions that Miami Lakes families enjoy today can trace their origins back to the Demings’ dedication and hard work in those early decades.

Lifelong Civic Involvement and Community Service

As Miami Lakes grew, so did the scope of George and Marie’s community service. Even after their own children grew up, the Demings never stopped giving back. They turned their focus to improving the town for fellow residents of all ages. Both George and Marie became deeply involved in local civic committees – volunteer advisory boards that help run town programs. For example, in their later years the couple served together on Miami Lakes’ Elderly Affairs Committee, a group devoted to enhancing the quality of life for the town’s senior citizens​. As committee members, the Demings helped plan and host a variety of activities for seniors, from holiday luncheons and seasonal socials to monthly “Lunch Bunch & Bingo” gatherings and field trips​. It was not uncommon to see George and Marie – well into their 70s and 80s – cheerfully greeting attendees at a Thanksgiving luncheon or handing out raffle tickets at a senior karaoke social. They believed strongly in keeping Miami Lakes’ older residents active, engaged, and feeling like a valued part of the community. The mission, as the Elderly Affairs Committee states, was “to improve the quality of life for the elderly residents of the Town of Miami Lakes through engaged and active support”, and the Demings embodied that mission every day​. Their fellow committee members often remarked on the couple’s energy and kindness – Marie with her warm smile and George with his friendly handshake – as they made everyone feel welcome at these events.

George also lent his time to the town’s Veterans Committee, reflecting his pride in military service. He was a familiar face at Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies. In fact, in 2014 he joined other veteran volunteers and town officials in a special tree-planting ceremony at Picnic Park West to honor Miami Lakes veterans who had passed away​. Standing alongside his comrades, George helped dedicate that living memorial to fallen soldiers who had called Miami Lakes home​. Ever humble, he considered it “the least we can do” to remember those who served. After George’s own passing in January 2021, the Town of Miami Lakes paid tribute to him in return – planting a tree in his honor at the very same park where he had dedicated others​. It was a touching full-circle moment: the community he had nurtured for so long now memorialized him with a lasting symbol of life and growth. Today, a young tree grows in Picnic Park West bearing Master Sergeant George Deming’s name, reminding visitors of his decades of service to country and community​.

Meanwhile, Marie’s contributions, though sometimes quieter, were equally heartfelt. In addition to her work on the Elderly Affairs Committee, she was often active with local charitable events – from church fundraisers to neighborhood improvement projects. For years, Marie participated in the Miami Lakes Garden Club, helping beautify public spaces, and she was known to deliver home-cooked meals to neighbors facing illnesses. While George organized on the public stage, Marie built community through personal gestures of kindness. Together, the Demings formed a perfect team: George the organizer and Marie the nurturer. Their shared passion for service made them role models and beloved figures across Miami Lakes.

Family, Faith, and Personal Anecdotes

Amid all their public service, George and Marie raised a close-knit family. They had a son, Tom Deming, whom they were immensely proud of. Tom grew up immersed in Miami Lakes’ sports culture – no surprise given his father’s influence – and became a standout athlete himself. He attended local schools and went on to play college football at the University of Miami. As a tight end for the Miami Hurricanes, Tom was even a member of the famed 1983 Hurricanes squad that won the national championship​. (For context, that team, coached by Howard Schnellenberger, brought Miami its first national title in football.) Neighbors still recall the excitement when the Demings’ “little Tommy” appeared on the Hurricanes roster – he was listed at an imposing 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds as a freshman​! George and Marie attended as many UM home games as they could, decked out in orange and green, beaming with pride. Whether Tom made a catch or not, his parents were known to cheer the loudest in the stands. It became a fun bit of local lore that one of Miami Lakes’ own was part of that championship Hurricanes team. After college, Tom went into business (and today runs a consulting firm), but to Miami Lakes old-timers he’ll always be remembered in his football jersey – and as the beneficiary of the strong community values his parents instilled.

Lisa Deming – Cheer‑captain and softball standout who mirrored her mom’s inclusive spirit. Today Lisa and her husband Scott call Virginia home. Their three married daughters have blessed them with seven grandchildren, making George & Marie proud great‑grandparents before they passed.

The Demings’ family values extended beyond just supporting their son. They were devout in their faith and active parishioners at a local church for many years, often volunteering at bake sales and youth retreats. Friends joke that George and Marie never really “retired” – they simply shifted their focus from raising their child to “raising” an entire community. Indeed, the couple’s home on Mahogany Court was a gathering place for generations of friends and neighbors. Every Halloween, the Demings famously gave out the “best candy on the block,” and every Christmas their lawn glowed with a nativity scene and lights that George hand-strung himself (insisting on climbing the ladder well into his 80s). Marie had a talent for baking and would surprise new families on the street with a batch of cookies or a homemade Key lime pie. These personal touches endeared them to everyone.

One charming anecdote circulating among neighbors is how the Demings met newcomers: whenever a house on the street sold, George and Marie made a point to welcome the new homeowners with a small housewarming gift – a potted plant or a framed photo of a picturesque Miami Lakes sunset. They would say, “Welcome to the neighborhood. We’ve been here since the beginning, so if you need anything or want to know the history of this place, come on over!” Indeed, their institutional memory of Miami Lakes was unparalleled. They could recall when the now-bustling Miami Lakes Drive was a dirt road, or when the corner Publix supermarket was built. Prospective buyers of their home today often find it inspiring that the property has only ever been owned by this one remarkable couple who witnessed the entire evolution of the town.

A Lasting Legacy in Miami Lakes

George and Marie Deming are considered local historical figures in Miami Lakes for good reason. Their lives trace the arc of the town’s history, from its birth in the 1960s to the present day. More importantly, their contributions have left an indelible mark on the community’s identity. The Demings helped establish the recreational leagues that bonded Miami Lakes’ young families; they devoted themselves to causes benefiting both the young and the elderly; and they embodied the neighborly spirit that Miami Lakes is known for. It’s often said that a community is only as strong as the people who give back to it – and the Demings gave tirelessly.

When George passed away in January 2021 at age 89, tributes poured in from across town​. Former Little Leaguers (now adults) wrote condolences remembering “Coach George” as a positive influence on their childhood. Town officials dedicated the tree in his memory and even hung a Military Tribute Banner in his honor downtown, acknowledging not only his Army service but also his decades mentoring youth​. Marie continued to be a gracious presence in Miami Lakes for a few years after George’s death, attending town events and church services, always with a friendly word and a wave. She passed away in January 2025 at the age of 89​, closing a chapter on one of the community’s founding families. At her memorial service, many noted that Miami Lakes would not be the same today if not for the Demings’ love and labor through the years.

Why are the Demings revered as local legends? In short, they personified civic engagement and “service above self.” They didn’t just live in Miami Lakes – they lived for Miami Lakes. Whether it was George organizing a new sports program or Marie comforting a neighbor in need, the couple continually looked for ways to strengthen their town. Generations of Miami Lakers have benefited from their contributions: children had teams to play on, seniors had socials to attend, veterans had recognition – all thanks in part to the Demings’ volunteerism. Their names are familiar in town lore, from the Optimist Club honor roll to the committee rosters. As local historian Howard Blount once wrote, “The story of Miami Lakes cannot be told without mentioning George and Marie Deming”. They are a reminder that a single household’s commitment to community can ripple outward and shape the character of an entire town.

Today, as one stands under the shade of the memorial tree at Picnic Park West or drives past the bustling Optimist Park fields, the legacy of George and Marie Deming lives on. Prospective new residents often find it heartwarming that the home at 14515 Mahogany Court was not just a piece of real estate, but the cradle of so much community goodwill. The Demings’ story is woven into the very fabric of Miami Lakes – a compelling narrative of civic pride, family, and friendship that will be shared for years to come. Their lives exemplify the best of Miami Lakes’ past and present, and their legacy continues to inspire others to serve. In a town built on vision and volunteerism, George and Marie Deming will forever be remembered as pillars of the community​.