GEORGE SALIBA

SALIBA
GEORGE
A lifelong resident of New Kensington, PA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, October 14, 2015. He was 88. George was born on June 6, 1927, the third and middle son of five children of parents, Bergis and Elizabeth Saliba, then recent immigrants from Lebanon, in their apartment above the family business, Saliba's Market, located on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Walnut Street. He graduated from New Kensington High School where he was a three sport letterman and was known as "The Rock" by his Red Raider football teammates. Upon graduation from high school, he turned down multiple football scholarships and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, proudly serving his country during World War II. After an honorable discharge at the war's conclusion, George attended and later graduated with both a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Pittsburgh. He also studied at Mellon Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. George spent ten years on a team of fellow engineers at The Scaife Company in Oakmont, where he received top level government clearance in order to work with the US Military. He later became a tenured professor in the Mechanical Engineering department of the School of Engineering at The University of Pittsburgh where he served as the Associate Chairman for part of his career. He retired in 1993. George was a lifelong parishioner of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in New Kensington. He was an active parishioner, having proudly served as its Treasurer and a council member during his years of service. George is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Aziza Jardak Saliba; two sons and daughters-in- law, David George Saliba and Leslie Saliba, and their two children Veronica and Sammy of Beaver Falls, PA, and Michael George Saliba and Jessica Lawrence, and their three children, Olivia, Michael and Henry of New York City; as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great- nephews. He is also survived by his brother, J. Edward Saliba, the Chief of the New Kensington Fire Department, his wife Gretchen Saliba and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Saliba, all of New Kensington. He was very fortunate to be loved by close friends, including the Fellowes family, who called him Jidu (Arabic for grandfather). He was preceded in death by his father, Bergis George Saliba; his mother, Elizabeth Saliba; and two brothers, Philip and James; and his sister-in-law, Selma Saliba all of New Kensington. Friends who wish to pay their respects may do so at the ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME, LTD., 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington, on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., where a Trisagion Service will be held Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Monday at 9:30 a.m. A funeral will be held at St. George Orthodox Church, 1150 Leishman Avenue, New Kensington, Monday at 10 a.m. Father Meletios Zafaran will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell. To leave an online condolence please visit:
www.rossgwalker.com