For five years, Fred George, esteemed taxation lawyer and confidante, struggled with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mr. George, a resident of Point Breeze for three decades, died in his home on Friday. He was 59.

Mr. George, a retired partner at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, was an expert at taxation and pension law and worked with families to create and handle wills, trusts and other documents.

"He helped families plan for difficult issues with facing one's death," said Mr. George's wife of 27 years, Susan.

"He used those skills to help his family to face his own death."

Mr. George was born in Roanoke, Va., on Oct. 2, 1949, to accountant Edwin and homemaker Gladys George.

Mr. George attended William Fleming High School and later Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He received his law degree in 1976 at Georgetown University Law Center.

Fred and Susan George met over a fondue pot when both were students at Georgetown in 1978. They would soon graduate, Fred with a master's in taxation law, and Susan with a law degree.

They both headed to Pittsburgh for law positions, started to date and were married in 1982.

Mr. George worked at Eckert Seamans, Downtown, of for 28 years. But besides work, Mr. George had a passion for his family, said R. Michael Daniel, a lawyer who knew Mr. George for 30 years. In his office, Mr. George had nothing but pictures of his children, Julie, Michael and Holly, Mr. Daniel said.

And Mr. George also had a passion for sports, especially golf. In high school, he was a member of the golf team. Later in life, he continued to play as a member of the "Weakenders" group at Oakmont Country Club. The group would meet every weekend to play during the golf season. He also served as legal counsel for the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association.

Mrs. George said that in 2002, her husband started to realize his handicap score in golf started to increase. One day, he dropped a cup of coffee. He saw his doctor, who learned he had a neuromuscular disease. In September 2004, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, which attacks nerve cells that control muscle movement.

Mr. George fought the disease for five years, even as he became wheelchair-bound and slowly lost the ability to speak. He was forced to retire from Eckert Seamans in 2006.

Still, he was "fortunate" to participate in an investigative medicine program run by the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia, Mrs. George said. He became one of 10 beneficiaries from Pennsylvania for the trial medicine, she said.

"We believe that it helped extend his life," Mrs. George added.

Ultimately, friends and family members remember him for being a gentle person and good listener. Mrs. George said he was the "epitome of discretion" with his clients and a source of support for his family members.

"He was a good guy," Mr. Daniel said. "I am going to miss him."

Mr. George is survived by his wife and three children at home. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at John Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Ave., Shadyside.

The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Homewood Cemetery Chapel, 1599 S. Dallas Ave. Interment is private.