George Constantine Commandaros

Obituary of George Constantine Commandaros
George Constantine Commandaros, 98 of El Dorado Hills, CA (formerly of
Pittsburgh, PA) died peacefully surrounded by his family on October 29, 2022.
George was born in Manhattan, New York, to Constantine and Martha
Commandaros, immigrants of Sparta, Greece.
George is survived by his wife Betsy, his daughters Marti Adams, JoAnna
Commandaros and Alexandra Bergstrom; sons-in-law Tim Adams, and Luke
Bergstrom; grandchildren Arianna Adams, Alexander Adams and Christian
Bergstrom; sisters Mary Strazza, Evelyn Olsen, and Sophia Boulalas; and
nephews/nieces Tom Olsen, Andrew Strazza, Philip James and Wendy James.
At 18, George enlisted and bravely served in World War II with HOW Battery, 3rd
Battalion, 10 Marines, 2nd Marine Division. George was heartbroken when he
lost his best friend on the beaches of Normandy. After the war, George received
a scholarship to attend The Cooper Union School for the Arts in New York.
Thereafter, George obtained a degree in architecture from Carnegie Tech in
Pittsburgh.
George met his soon-to-be wife Betsy Zamagias (originally of Johnstown) at a
Greek dance held in Pittsburgh, where the two soon married, settled down and
raised a family. George opened his own architecture office, and developed a
successful and well-respected practice that lasted for over 50 years, designing
many notable homes and commercial buildings in the Pittsburgh area.
Throughout his life, George was a thoughtful and creative artist, photographer,
and painter. His works of art adorn the homes of many family members and
friends and are enjoyed to this day.
George cherished his Greek heritage, especially dance (particularly, and most
often, with Betsy by his side). For more than a decade, he chaired the Greek
Room Committee at The University of Pittsburgh, providing scholarships for study
in Greece to university students.
George was a great storyteller and a humorous debater, as only a member of
"The Greatest Generation" could be. He had a smile that would light up the room,
especially when his girls were nearby. More than anything, George was a loving
husband and father, a true family man who will be long, greatly, and lovingly
remembered and missed.