George Michael Kelakos

1957 - 2024

George Michael Kelakos, 67 of Greenwich Connecticut passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024 of complications from the Covid-19 virus he contracted in November 2020.

George was born on February 24, 1957 in Boston, Massachusetts. George's father was a Foreign Service officer with the American Embassy and George spent his childhood years living in Italy, France and Israel. He attended the Walworth Barbor American International School in Israel and finished high school at Canton High School in Canton, MA when the family returned to the United States. George graduated from Brandeis University and got his law degree from University of Denver.

After law school, George practiced bankruptcy and restructuring law at various firms before forming Cohn & Kelakos in Boston in 1990. In 2006, George formed Kelakos Advisors LLC focusing on cross-border transactions, distressed M&A, insolvency and dispute resolution. He had advisory roles to western companies with presence in Southeast Asia, China, Europe and the Middle East. George was an original founding member of the International Insolvency Institute which was formed in 2002. He was a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and served as Vice President of International Committee. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of the ABI's classic rock band "Indubitable Equivalents" formed in 2004. George was a passionate musician, an advanced martial artist and a motorcycle enthusiast.

George is survived by his wife Anchalee Kelakos, Anchalee's family in Northern Virginia, his sister Eleni Kelakos and her husband Jim Fleming, the Behrakis and the Zaroulis of Lowell, MA, the Pappas of Boston, MA, the Kelakos-Haberstroh of Westport, CT, the Constas and the Hamilton of Greenwich, CT. He was predeceased by his father Michael George Kelakos and mother Theresa Plakias Kelakos.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held in Washington, D.C. to coincide with the American Bankruptcy Institute's annual conference in April.