Michael G. Proios

Michael George Proios (1939 – 2025)
Michael G. Proios, known affectionately as Mike by his friends and family, passed away peacefully at home on December 14, 2025 in Southampton, N.Y. Mike was a kind, warm and embraceable spirit with an infectious laugh who brought joy and smiles to everyone around him, be they friends, relatives or colleagues, be they young or old. Mike was a loving and dedicated husband to his wife, Jacqueline (Jackie) E. Proios with whom he shared an enduring love story for over four decades until she passed on March 7, 2024, and he now rejoins her side in heaven.
Born in Chios, Greece on February 19, 1939, Mike grew up during a tumultuous period of that country's rich history, living in Athens during World War II and the German occupation and then during the Greek civil war which prompted his entire family, mother Anna and father George (who was a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine at the time) along with his sister, Maroula, and his younger brother, Constantine ("Gus") to move to Long Beach, N.Y. in 1951. George passed away the following year and Anna, along with his older sister, Maroula, and the countless aunts and uncles in the neighborhood, raised Mike and Gus. Mike attended Long Beach High School, graduating in 1956 and then attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated with honors in July 1960. He sailed in the U.S. Merchant Marine on various vessels between 1960 and 1964 primarily with American Export Lines, Inc.'s U.S. liner service operation as 2nd and 3rd Mate. Mike eventually earned his U.S. maritime license as Chief Mate of Steam or Motor Vessels of any Gross Tons.
Mike began his professional career at Phoenix Maritime Agencies, Inc., where he worked from 1964 through 1988, while also serving as a U.S. Naval Reserve officer until 1970 when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. He then moved to the Upper East Side of Manhattan to be closer to Phoenix Maritime's offices on 60th street and Madison Avenue. Phoenix Maritime operated and managed as many as 12 bulk carriers at one time, ranging from 25,000 to 65,000 DWT in worldwide trades. Mike started out as Port Captain for the company and worked his way up to Marine Superintendent and then Operations Manager for the company, coordinating various vessel operations, maintenance and repairs, crewing, and insurance placements and coverage. He also assisted with the development of self-discharging bulk carriers (Hitachi class) for the company and attended and supervised the new building of several bulk carriers subsequently managed and operated by Phoenix Maritime. One of those ships was notably named the M/V Jackie, which was named after his wife and which she christened in Japan at its launching, a fitting symbol of their love for each other.
Mike and Jackie married in 1982 and were inseparable. They both shared a common passion for travel, visiting countries all around the world together, and for cooking, where Jackie provided the culinary expertise and Mike brought his professional tasting expertise. Mike and Jackie especially enjoyed spending time with their family. Mike helped raise her two sons, Greg and Tony, and became a mainstay and pillar of their family as it grew. Greg married Theresa and welcomed Rose, Louis and Joseph, and Tony married Jennifer and welcomed Ashleigh and Michael. Mike continued to be a focal part of their lives as their families grew, attending each graduation and other milestones as their "Papou" up until his passing. Mike and Jackie continued to be a fixture at family celebrations with his sister and brother and the countless first cousins with whom he grew up in Long Beach and continued to maintain strong relationships with many of them after they had moved to New York City and its surrounding suburbs.
After Phoenix Maritime closed operations, Mike pivoted to an entirely new profession when he and Jackie opened up a travel agency in Bronxville, N.Y., where they lived together for the next 20 years. In 2001, Mike and Jackie retired and moved to Southampton, N.Y. to their beautiful waterfront home on the bay with spectacular sunsets and ocean views to share with each other for the next 23 years. Mike and Jackie hosted family there every Christmas Day, and it was the highlight of everyone's holiday calendar. Jackie would prepare a bountiful feast headlined by her classic baked ham and a string of delicious side dishes, including her famous spanakopita, stuffed mushrooms, tortellini alfredo, and green beans. Meanwhile, Mike was in charge of desserts, especially the pies and ice cream.
Mike was also an avid fan of the Mets, Giants, Knicks, and Rangers and watched many of their games with his family and friends. And before the Mets, he was a diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fan. He always made the spectating experience more entertaining with his unfiltered and frank commentary and he reveled in those moments when his teams won their respective championships in 1969, 1970, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 2007 and 2011. Mike was also an avid investor, playing and following the stock market with the same passion he brought to his professional and family life. And for nearly two decades, he was part of a weekly tennis foursome at Fordham University's Rose Hill gym facilities with his childhood friend and Professor, Gus Katsoris, his brother-in-law, John Tsimis, and his longtime friend, Bill Regan. Unfortunately, none of those matches ever made the highlight reels, but they were hotly contested, they broke a lot of graphite rackets, and they always ended with a hearty feast at an Italian restaurant on Arthur Avenue.
Mike leaves behind his older sister, Maroula, and his younger brother, Gus; Maroula's sons and his nephews, Nickolas and George Tsimis, as well as their wives, Kim and Evlyn, and their children, his great nephews, John, Theo, John and Michael; his stepsons, Greg and Tony Avellino, their wives, Theresa and Jennifer, and his grandchildren, Rose, Louis and Joseph, and Ashleigh and Michael; Rose's Husband, Brian, and Louis's wife, Emma; his great-grandchildren, Thomas and Arthur; his sister-in-law Sandra DelPriore, his brother-in-law, Chuck and his wife Judy, and their children, Brian Comitto and his wife Melissa and their children Sofia and Dalilah, and Jessica Zeller and her husband Kyle and their children Harrison and James.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to one of Mike's favorite charities, Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/) or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).