GEORGE PAULOS

PAULOS--George. George Paulos passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at his home in Greenwich Village, New York City. He was 87. George was born and raised in his beloved borough of Brooklyn to Stella and Louis Paulos, original owners of the Candy and News Shop at the corner of 5th Avenue and 9th street in Park Slope. He received his education from PS 39 and Brooklyn Polytechnic High School. He was an avid basketball player and the stickball champion of his block. George worked in the aviation industry for his entire career, building markets around the world for TransAmerica and other airlines. He took great pleasure in his work, the people he met, the stories he gathered, and particularly the place where it all happened - throughout his career his office was inside his favorite part of the NYC skyline, the Empire State Building. During his work at the Council on Student Travel, he met his wife of nearly 60 years, Kirsten. She was a fledgling switchboard operator who introduced herself by accidentally disconnecting him from a critical transatlantic phone call. Their first date was at a New York Rangers hockey game. He moved to the hinterlands of Maplewood, New Jersey while raising children, where he forged friendships that would last the rest of his life. As soon as the kids moved out, he gratefully returned to the city he dubbed "the Athens of the Modern Age". His passion later in life was volunteering for an urban oasis in Greenwich Village known as the Jefferson Market Garden, on whose board he served for 20 years, 10 as chairman. He was kind and open-hearted with friends across the world. He was as proud of his Greek heritage as he was of his Brooklyn background. "Endaxi" was his personal motto and he brought his calming presence and good humor to every situation he encountered in life. He is survived by his loving wife, Kirsten, his children, Christina and Gregory, their amazing spouses Robert and Posha, and his cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Oscar and Stella. He will be sorely missed. A memorial service is planned for the spring of 2023. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jefferson Market Garden, 511 Sixth Ave., #7313, NY, NY 10011, jeffersonmarketgarden.org