George J. Theophilos

George J. Theophilos, adored father, son, brother and friend, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 at The Hellenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canton, MA, surrounded by his family. 

Born in Shenandoah, PA on December 13, 1928, George was the middle child and only son of John Theophilos and Lambrini (Spanos) Theophilos.  He grew up in Bethesda, MA with his sisters, the late Sophia Theophilos and the late Lillian Theophilos Belew, with whom he remained close throughout the years.   

Due to his own father’s untimely death, George started working at the age of nine, setting up pins in a bowling alley.  His impressive work ethic stayed strong throughout his life and he became the first member of his family to go to college, graduating from George Washington University in 1950.  A talented athlete who could play any sport, he especially loved basketball and softball, and he worked his way through school by supervising his local playground, where he coached and mentored countless youth, many of whom later became his friends.  

Also a Korean War veteran, George would always say that the war taught him to appreciate things and not complain, a maxim he was true to his entire life.  He served in Korea for two years, his main mission to run a POW camp.  After the war, George not only remained friends with a large group of his fellow soldiers, his army buddies, as he called them, but also became pen pals with some of the POWs that were under his care. 

He pursued a career in commercial banking and remained in that field for over 40 years.  In that time, he became a vice-president and helped many small businesses flourish.  His real passion, however, was anything health-related and he imparted a slew of healthy habits to his children years before they were common knowledge, such as wearing sunscreen, flossing daily and the importance of comfortable shoes, to name just a few.  He believed that big vegetable salads and going for long walks were two of the cornerstones of good health.  

When it came to people, George would tell you that race, creed, gender, etc. didn’t matter.  Integrity and being a decent person were what counted to him.  Due to this attitude, he accumulated legions of loyal friends of all kinds during his lifetime.  His keen sense of humor, warm smile, and kind manner won the hearts of everyone he encountered.  Polite to a fault, he put other people before himself and always tried to do the right thing regardless of circumstance.  The world would be a much better place if more people were like our Dad George.  He will be dearly missed by all who knew him but especially by his children, for whom he was both a father and a friend.  

He is survived by his children, Lisa Theophilos and John Theophilos, his son-in-law, Kevin Clines and daughter-in-law, Paula Theophilos, his grandchildren, Lea and Anna Theophilos, his cousin, Lou Levathes, the mother of his children, Maria Theophilos, his brother-in-law, William R. Belew, his nephew Ted Theophilos, his lifelong best friends, Peter Georgatsos, George Koutras and Frank Marcellino, as well as numerous other family and friends. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Friday from 9:30-11 AM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. Funeral services will be celebrated on Friday at 11:30 AM in St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 119 Common Street,Braintree. Burial will follow in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alz.org: 1-800-272-3900.