George Peros

George Michael Peros, 85, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, passed away on Saturday, August 25th 2018. He was born on the Greek Island of Rodos (a.k.a. Rhodes), on January 22nd 1933, the second of six children born to Michael and Irene Peros.

He grew up in the ancient “Old City” of Rodos and lived under Italian and German occupation during World War 2. He and his older brother, Leftede, had a regular - and dangerous - practice of sneaking into the German camps to steal food for family, friends and villagers, with one brother acting as a distraction. After narrowly escaping Nazi gunfire, George was captured and paraded through the village where he was told to name his co-conspirator. George not only refused to rat out his older brother, but won over the enemy soldiers who then proceeded to let George and his older brother continue to steal food.

And that became the theme of George’s life as an easy-going charmer with a most winning smile. After the war ended, at age 16, he studied and became an apprentice pharmacist, working a stone’s throw from where the ancient Greek Colossus once stood astride the harbor.

With an eye towards avoiding mandatory Greek military service and seeing the world, George got a job as a pharmacist aboard the then state-of-the-art “Tina Onassis”, a chemical/oil tanker, and set sail at age 20 on a route that took him through Europe, Africa, and South America, for the next few years.

Upon docking at the port of Philadelphia, George used his persuasive charms to get all his legal papers from the ship’s steward and then remain in America after his ship set sail without him. He worked his way up the coast, ultimately landing in The Bronx, NY. Soon after, in 1957 at a Greek dance, he asked for the phone number of 19-year-old Tessie Ayvas of Brooklyn, who said no. But when he flashed the same insistent smile and Greek dancing moves at a second dance, she said yes.

George and Tessie were married on September 27th 1959, had three sons, Michael, John, and Steven (who all sport “George” as their middle name), and in 1968 moved from Brooklyn to North Babylon, New York, where they raised their young family in working class Long Island.

George founded “GP Painting and Decorating” (later re-christened, “George’s Painting & Decorating”), which he maintained for his entire working life, with loyal customers from Manhattan to the furthest tip of Long Island.

He became an active member of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, becoming Parish Counsel President. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the tireless fundraising that allowed the church to grow from its humble beginnings in a tiny former synagogue to breaking ground on what is today West Babylon’s thriving Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

George is survived by his wife, Tessie, sons, Michael, John, and Steven, other son Jim (“Tsimmy”), daughter-in-law Barbara, sisters, Titika, Athanasia, and Voula, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in George’s name would be appreciated to either Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in West Babylon, NY, or Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona Beach, FL. The family would also greatly appreciate an online condolence, with any story or anecdote you wish to share, please leave these condolences by scrolling below and clicking show your support.