Former President George H.W. Bush's ties run deep in Fairfield County and those who had the chance to meet him are remembering him fondly.

President Bush played an integral role in encouraging Bob Macauley, the future founder of the Stamford-based nonprofit Americares, to follow his humanitarian dreams.

Michael Nyenhuis, president and CEO of Americares, says Bush encouraged the founder of the organization to "go for it" when he thought of the ideas behind Americares.

The Bushes participated in many missions with Americares and even invited Nyenhuis to their home to accept an award just last year. Nyenhuis says Bush was always an active member of the community and a person who was always willing to donate his time to give back to others.

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"We stand on the shoulders today of really important people who launched this important work and one of those people is George H.W. Bush and what a privilege to be leading an organization today that Mr. Bush had such an impact in," says Nyenhuis.

Bush's family moved to Greenwich when he was a baby and lived there for some time. He went to Greenwich Country Day School and even met his wife in town. 

"His family was an integral part of the Greenwich community," says Peter Tesei, of Greenwich.

Tesei had the chance to pose for a photo with Bush when he was a page at the U.S. Senate. He says they bonded over ties to Greenwich and their passion for public service.

"He made a profound impact about service over self and it's something that I think should resonate with all of our young people," says Tesei.

President Bush was also remembered by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who says Bush set a great example of unity and kindness.

"He was a classic New Englander, believing that we can disagree without being disagreeable, that we can work together even if we have some differences on issues," Sen. Blumenthal.

Sen. Blumenthal says those messages of kindness and bipartisanship should be passed down for generations to come.