Obituary of George Paulos
January 28, 2023
George Paulos passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at his home in Greenwich Village, NYC. He was 87.
George was born and raised in his beloved borough of Brooklyn to Stella and Louis Paulos, original owners of the Candy and News Shop at the corner of 5th Avenue and 9th street in Park Slope. He received his education from PS 39 and Brooklyn Polytechnic High School. He was an avid basketball player and the stickball champion of his block.
George worked in the aviation industry for his entire career, building markets around the world for TransAmerica and other airlines. He took great pleasure in his work, the people he met, the stories he gathered, and particularly the place where it all happened - throughout his career his office was inside his favorite part of the NYC skyline, the Empire State Building.
During his work at the Council on Student Travel he met his wife of nearly 60 years, Kirsten. She was a fledgling switchboard operator who introduced herself by accidentally disconnecting him from a critical transatlantic phone call. Their first date was at a NY Rangers hockey game. He moved to the hinterlands of Maplewood, New Jersey while raising children, where he forged friendships that would last the rest of his life. As soon as the kids moved out, he gratefully returned to the city he dubbed "the Athens of the Modern Age". His passion later in life was volunteering for an urban oasis in Greenwich Village known as the Jefferson Market Garden, on whose board he served for 20 years, 10 as chairman.
He was kind and open-hearted with friends across the world. He was as proud of his Greek heritage as he was of his Brooklyn background. "Endaxi" was his personal motto and he brought his calming presence and good humor to every situation he encountered in life.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kirsten, his children, Christina and Gregory, their amazing spouses Robert and Posha, and his cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Oscar and Stella. He will be sorely missed.
A memorial service is planned for the spring of 2023. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jefferson Market Garden, 511 Sixth Ave., #7313, New York, NY 10011, www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org
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As a young fresh-faced Irish journalist with a yearning to see America, I travelled to the US and arrived in Maplewood, New Jersey in 1983 as an au-pair to George and Kirsten Paulos two lovely children, Tina and Greg. I spent one of the happiest years of my life in the company of this wonderful family who treated me as one of their own, and provided me with countless opportunities to travel and experience the American way of life. Despite the fact that I returned to Ireland in 1985, the friendship we developed endured for all these years. George was such a lovely gentleman and he had an abiding curiosity about every aspect of life, and particularly loved travel and the aviation industry. He was a New Yorker to his core and absolutely adored every inch of the city. I learned so much from him during the very memorable year I spent living in the lovely Paulos home in New Jersey. I will forever treasure the kindness shown to me by both George and Kirsten and the unforgettable opportunities afforded to me - holidays in Florida, Club Med in the Bahamas, 5th of July celebrations in New York, Christmas at the Rockerfeller Center, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - so, so many wonderful memories. The last time I spent time with dear George was in 2018 when we travelled to New York and he was every bit as much a gentleman then as he was when I first met him in 1983. Myself and my family were so, so sorry to hear he had passed away, and would like to extend our sincere condolences to my America Mama, Kirsten, to Tina, Greg, Bob, Posha, Olivia, Oscar, Stella and the extended family. George was one in a million and I absolutely loved and respected him. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
Posted by: Geraldine Walsh (nee Grennan) - Tullamore, Offaly. IRELAND - Family Friend February 16, 2023