George P. Anastasion, a man with roots and wings George Pericles Anastasion, 94, passed away November 20, 2018 at his home in Orange. He was born in New Haven on March 29, 1924 to Eleni and Savas Anastasion, Greek immigrants from Turkey and owners of the Empire Quality Market on Chapel Street. He was a kind and fiercely loyal son who inherited his parents’ energetic and remarkably forward-thinking perspective.
He served as Church Council President and on the Endowment Committee at St Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church for many years and played a key role in facilitating the construction of the new church in Orange as his parents had done in New Haven so many years before. He warmly brought together the descendants of the original Greek immigrants from the village of Bermata, Turkey for a picnic at the family cottage where they gathered to enjoy food, music, stories, and fellowship. George honored his heritage and contributed to his city in the way of many immigrant communities in this country.
He proudly attended Barnard Elementary School, Hillhouse High School, and Yale University class of 1945W where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree, graduated as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, and served as an officer on USS Cohocton during WWII. George married Nita Andreas, an elementary school teacher, in 1949 and they enjoyed an extraordinarily loving and supportive marriage for over 69 years. Even near the end of his life his thoughts were about Nita and her care.
Theirs was a true love story. George was an excellent musician who filled his family home with music and continued to study guitar, bouzouki, banjo, and music theory through the years. He entertained at hospice, Yale Nursing School, and with the Elm City Banjo Society.
He began his career at Berger Brothers, reorganizing the factory assembly plan and at the Empire Quality Market with his father. Then George moved on to work at Southern New England Telephone Company for over 30 years in plant engineering, economic forecasting, and real estate management. He brought precision and careful examination to his creative side and creativity and vision to his analytical work.
He is predeceased by brothers Steven and Paul. He is survived by the love of his life, Nita; daughters Cathy, Jean Rubera (Donald), Sarali (James), and grandsons Grayson and DJ. George was fiercely loving, creative, and generous of spirit – a man with roots and wings – and he is dearly missed.
Visitation begins at 11:30AM and services at 1:00PM at St Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church in Orange on Wednesday, November 28. In lieu of flowers: American Cancer Society or St Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church.
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