George G. Fenzil Sr., 70, police captain and winner of the George Fencl Award.

THERE WAS George Fencl and there was George Fenzil.

Both dedicated and much honored Philadelphia cops.

George Fencl was the late legendary chief inspector of civil affairs who could calm a stormy street demonstration with a few soft-spoken words.

George Fenzil was a legend in his own right, a highly praised police captain who made himself an active part of the communities in which he served, not just a cop enforcing the law.

For his police work and civil commitment, George Fenzil received the Daily News' coveted George Fencl Award in 1991, honoring a police officer who exemplified the character and dedication of George Fencl.

George G. Fenzil Sr., a 33-year veteran of the force, died Wednesday. He was 70 and lived in Somerton.

When George Fenzil commanded the 7th District at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street, he could have been found picking up trash, painting over graffiti, organizing parades, holding Christmas parties for young patients at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and Halloween parties at the schools, among other activities.

George actually had a day named for him. In 1987, City Council proclaimed George Fenzil Day when he commanded the 25th District, where he served the often-troubled Hunting Park community with the same commitment.

George Fenzil actually worked under George Fencl on the civil affairs squad for 14 months in the early '80s.

"Sometimes, it was confusing," he once said. "We got each other's phone calls once in a while. We'd kid around about it."

In an article by the Daily News' Joe Clark, George told about a noisy demonstration by citizens demanding a civic improvement on Frankford Avenue.

"I figured I could handle this," George said. "I talked to them, but they didn't want to hear anything. They wanted action. These people weren't moving. After a few hours, George arrived on the scene. He talked to them and it was all over. He was an amazing guy."

That was why, George Fenzil said, being honored with the Fencl Award "means something special to me."

He was commanding the 8th District, Red Lion and Academy Roads, in 1990, his second nomination, and he had already been covered with laurels from the city, state and community at a surprise 30th anniversary party on Aug. 8, 1990.

He received service awards from the state Senate and House of Representatives, plaques from community groups and a commemorative award from City Councilman Brian O'Neill.

O'Neill praised George for his ability to get things done. "You tell him once about a problem and you never hear of it again. You never have to call George back."

George joined the police department in 1960. He advanced to corporal in 1966, detective a year later, sergeant in 1968 and lieutenant in 1979. He made captain in 1982 and was first assigned to civil affairs, then commanded the 8th District and the 25th. He was transferred to the Traffic District in 1991.

While at the 8th, and when he was first nominated for the George Fencl Award, he would visit ill residents in hospitals, assist at local fingerprinting programs for children and help clean up and repaint over the graffiti on the band shell in Pennypack Park.

During a town meeting in 1984, George upstaged then-Mayor W. Wilson Goode. Citizens who were there to complain about trash, vandalism, potholes and public housing spent much of their allotted speaking time praising George Fenzil.

Goode jokingly complained that George was getting all the attention.

George once explained his philosophy: "I'm just out there trying to do a job and serve the community the best that can be done."

He is survived by his wife, the former Teresa Rath; a son, George Fenzil Jr.; two daughters, Terri Salvino and Christina Haney; a brother, John Fenzil; a sister, Mary Bowen, and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by another sister, Rita Nowak.

Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. today at St. Christopher's Church, 13301 Proctor Rd. Friends may call at 8:30 a.m. at the John F. Givnish Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Rd. Burial will be in Washington National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Oncology Department of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia 19104.