George Samara, Jr.

George Samara Jr.

1941-2025

George “Butch” Samara, Jr. fell asleep in the Lord on September 20, 2025, at the age of 84 after a short illness.

George was born in Worcester, MA, on September 6, 1941, the youngest of 6 children. He grew up on the 2nd floor of a 3 decker apartment above the old El Morocco at 73 Wall Street. He graduated from North High in 1959 and then proudly served for four years in the United States Marine Corps stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. After discharge from the Corps, he graduated from Worcester Industrial Technology Institute and Fitchburg State College. He returned to his hometown where he taught in the Worcester Public Schools for 37 years. The majority of those years were spent teaching Industrial Arts in the wood shop at Burncoat Sr. High School.

Throughout his life, he had many adventures on the ground atop his motorcycle and in the air as he had attained his pilot’s license. George loved his pets over the years including his horse, huskies and dogs. Summers would be spent volunteering at the Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania where his memory will continue on at Carnival Night. Never one to hire a repairman, he would fix everything himself and loved restoring his Model “A” Ford and his Corvette. You could always find him singing along to his favorite music, watching old John Wayne movies, laughing heartily at John Pinette, or pontificating to anyone who would listen about topics great and small.

George is predeceased by his parents George Sr. and Minerva (née Nadaff), siblings Sophie, Theodora, Nicholas, Randolph, and Robert. He is survived by his wife Pamela (née Mitchell); sister-in-law Janice Samara; brother-in-law Fr. Michael Azkoul; children Leila (Josh Johnson), Khalil (Mariah), Jamil; grandchildren Lilyana, Jonah, August, Nadine, Cecilia, and Christian; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, September 25 at 11 am at Saint George Orthodox Cathedral at 30 Anna Street in Worcester.

Calling Hours will be in the funeral home on Wednesday, September 24 from 4pm until 7 pm at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St, Worcester and on Thursday, September 25 at 10 am until 10:45 am at Saint George Cathedral, prior to his Funeral Service at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in George’s memory to the Antiochian Village, 201 Saint Ignatius Trail, Bolivar, PA ( www.avcamp.org/ways-to-give ) or to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester, MA 01604 ( www.stgeorgeworcester.org ).

May George Rest Among the Saints and His Memory Be Eternal!