George Tilzer was born on September 17, 1899, in New York City. He received his law degree from New York University Law School in 1924 and was admitted to the Bar soon after. He remained in private practice until 1931, at which time he became an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County. After 21 years on the job, he was named Chief Assistant District Attorney by then-District Attorney George B. DeLuca.
Justice Tilzer was elected to the Supreme Court, 1st Judicial District, in 1954, where he sat until 1967, when Governor Rockefeller appointed him to the Appellate Division First Department. He remained there until 1975, when he reached mandatory retirement age (having already been certified and reappointed to senior status for three two-year terms after reaching age 70). He then went on to become of counsel to the law firm of Olnick, Seltzer & Boxer.
He served for many years as president of the Town Club of the City of New York, a social and philanthropic organization.
Tilzer was married in 1933 to Blanche Tetelman Tilzer, with whom he had one child. Justice Tilzer died on April 11, 1979, at the age of 79.
Sources
Obituary, New York Times, April 13, 1979, p. A25.