On 9/11/2007, George was killed on impact when the small plane he was piloting crashed into Copper Mountian in Joshua Tree, CA on a moonless night during a power grid black-out. George was a VFR rated pilot and apparently was relying on traffic on Hwy. 62 to judge his position on the the landing path to Roy Williams Airport where his plane was based. We do know that he had spent the previous hour "putting in night flying time" in that glorious place between the sparkeling stars and the lights on the ground, soaring in his spiritual high. The Press Enterprise News Story - Memorial Notice - Long Obituary

In his book "Georgie-Boy", George described the miraculous moment of his recovery from paralysis. That profound experience resulting in a rewired mind as a very different and special person. He believed that when his spirit left his body he would once more find himself in that place.

George Thornally devoted most of his life to helping people achieve their hidden potential.

A miraculous recovery from near death as a teenager gave George a deep appreciation for life and moved him to acquire an understanding of the ideas of the great minds of the ages. George gleaned a wisdom and insight into the human condition that is empowering.

His varied career included developing real estate and literary properties with partner Christopher Bird, sponsoring Buckminster Fuller's World Game, creating a master of arts program at the University of Redlands, advancing the state of telecommunications in the San Francisco Bay Area and fashioning AOL's early bid for preeminence.

George, who was an inspiring and empowering speaker, was available for talks, seminars, and consulting. He most recent career was as a writer.