George J. Graef Jr., known to friends and business associates by his nickname, Jay, passed away November 17, 2021, at age 74. He began working in his chosen profession at 22, soon after his graduation in 1970 with a degree in construction from Arizona State University.

His perseverant spirit was evident even at that young age when during his sophomore year he was injured in an automobile accident that put him in a body cast. He was advised to take a year off from school but refused.

Graef was actively involved in the construction industry community throughout his career. For 20 years, from 1992 to 2012, he served on the Del E. Webb School of Construction’s alumni board, including a long stint as its president. He also organized the annual golf tournaments, which raised money for the school.

In 2004, he was named to the ASU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for his career achievements and community service. The honor recognizes outstanding alumni who “embody the spirit of the New American University and who show excellence in their professional work as well as compassion and support for their communities.”

His legacy will live on through Rita, his daughter, Jill Graef says, “and the successful company he created, and in the determination that his daughters and granddaughters inherited from him.”