leadership qualities were soon evident. He first enrolled
at the Franklin Institute. It was his first opportunity at
an American school and ironically, it would be where
George served as president the last two years of his life.
Although he was true to his studies, he was also
true to his responsibilities back home. George, like all
able-bodied Greek citizens, was drafted by the Hellenic
armed forces, and he returned to Greece to serve as a
communications officer, gaining valuable experience
and refining his organizational skills.
“Knowledge is power and power is wealth” was one of
his favorite quotes, and he repeated it often. He understood that the best way to achieve meaningful change is
through learning and experience. He worked diligently
toward gaining a wealth of knowledge, which did not
come easy. He worked three different jobs just to earn
his living and tuition expenses. After he received a certificate from Franklin Institute, he eagerly enrolled at
Northeastern University, where he participated in the
University’s co-op program. George would remain forever grateful for all the opportunities he received at
Northeastern. He eventually earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and, later in life, he served on the Board of
Trustees for many years. He also earned an associates
degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and
years later was awarded a much deserved honorary doctorate of engineering technology degree. In addition,
he served on the Board of Trustees at Wentworth Institute, vice president of executive affairs, and managed
its Center for Community and Learning Partnerships.
Shortly after he completed his studies, George utilized his entrepreneurial skills to advance in the technology industry. He worked in his field of expertise,
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fiber optics and software, and established several
high technology industries, including Intelco, DelCom Corporation, Itergon Corporation, and Arcadian Capital Management. Academic and professional achievements aside, George would attest that
his greatest accomplishment was his family. He met
his future wife, Margo Sayegh, a Lebanese immigrant, through a colleague and their blossoming love
led to marriage.
Margo Chryssis i s the rock that George built his
life around and she provided the support for all his
dreams and aspirations. Together they have three
children, Rania, Lily and Alexander, and two grandchildren, Theo and Luke. George’s children were
the center of his life. He bestowed on them the importance of education and the perseverance to do
their best.
The Pancretan Association of America was very fortunate to have a leader like George, who integrated
the organization into the 21st century with ground
breaking ideas such as the Century Club, which included the three endowment funds of the PAA. He
was also very instrumental in passing a resolution in
the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for the
recognition of the Battle of Crete as a pivotal battle
of World War II.
For his tireless civic, volunteer and philanthropic
work, George received many recognitions and citations, including the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of
Honor. He was also the recipient of the PAA District
1 Minoan Award.
He served as Trustee of Anatolia College of Greece,
the Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology and, on March 5, 2000, was conferred as fellow