George G. Hazen passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy Division. He was 91 years old. Born in Highwood, Montana, he resided in Westfield before moving to Perth Amboy in 1989. Dr. Hazen attended Montana State for his undergraduate work and University of Michigan for his graduate work. Receiving a Ph.D. in 1950. Dr. Hazen was employed as a Research Chemist with Merck & Co. of Rahway for over 40 years before retiring in 1991. He chose chemistry because he wanted to help heal those who were sick. Among the proudest accomplishments in his professional life was his work to create an affordable manufacturing process for the drug cortisone, a drug that was considered a miracle drug when it was first discovered and is still widely used today. The first batches of cortisone cost $8,500 for per gram - prohibitively expensive for medical practice in the late 1940s. The Merck team reduced the price per gram to $30 by 1951 and continued to refine the manufacturing process. In 1957, Dr. Hazen was sent to the Philippines, Australia and Holland to set up processing operations for cortisone in those countries. International travel is a legacy and a passion that his children and grandchildren continue to enjoy. He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and a communicant of Saint John Paul II Parish, St. Mary's Church in Perth Amboy. Dr. Hazen was predeceased by his wife, Ruth E. Farrell Hazen, in 2013; and by his siblings, Nettie Brost, Ruth Vermulm, Logan Hazen, Donald Hazen and Dan Hazen. Surviving are six children, Stephen Hazen and his wife, Maria Limarzi, of Bethesda, MD, Timothy Hazen and his wife, Janet Shaw, of Savannah, GA, Carl Hazen and his wife, Susan, of Bloomfield, Mary Johnston and her husband, Jim, of Lexington, MA, Michael Hazen of Avenel and Margaret Lee and her husband, Dr. John Lee, of Fullerton, CA; a brother, Herb Hazen; 15 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint John Paul II Parish, St. Mary's Church, Mechanic at Center Street, Perth Amboy. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Perth Amboy. Visitation will be on Monday evening from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (www.costello-greiner.com), 44 Green Street at Barron Avenue, Woodbridge. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Children's Specialized Hospital, Children's Lightning Wheels, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092.