George Michael Malouf

George was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 6, 1933 to the late Francis Malouf and Lourice Shkair. He grew up in Beacon, New York where he learned at an early age the value of hard work and frugality, the importance of family, and a faithful relationship with God. He was a devout Catholic. He graduated from Beacon High School in 1952. Gifted with a beautiful lyric baritone voice, George often sang in church services, weddings, and other local performances. Up until shortly before his diagnosis, George used his musical talent to offer praise to his Lord and Savior.

Determined to prove he could make it anywhere, George moved to New York City in his early twenties, starting a long career in the airfreight industry. He worked for Emery Worldwide near New York’s JFK Airport. Following his retirement, he continued to maintain very close contact with his co-workers. During the later part of his career at Emery, George rode his bicycle every day to both midtown and downtown offices, darting in and out of Manhattan’s notoriously heavy traffic. He boasted that the money he saved from subway tokens could be put to better use elsewhere. Regardless of the weather, George reminded us that he was never late for work, nor was he ever subject to subway delays.

In 1988 before reaching his fifty-fifth birthday, George retired from work. He sold his enviably beautiful garden apartment in Greenwich Village, and moved down to Fort Lauderdale, where he enjoyed a busy retirement composed of reading, fitness, and traveling throughout the world by land, air and sea. George’s love for travel, especially on cruise ships, gave him a better understanding of the world and a greater appreciation of what life has to offer beyond work. George was always very proud to be able to retire early. He was blessed with a rich, long life of peace, prosperity and happiness, and opportunities to witness God’s wondrous creations around the world.

Always an active person physically much younger than his age would suggest, George had a daily regiment that included swimming in his condo pool for 45 minutes, preceded by a 1.5 mile walk along Victoria Park Road, and then followed by a strenuous eight-flight stairway climb halfway to his 15th floor penthouse.

An avid and fast reader with superior command of vocabulary, George maintained his sharp mental acuity and was famously known for devouring book after book in very rapid succession. George’s spelling ability and command of the English vocabulary was indeed impressive.

George is survived by his life-long and faithful partner of forty-two years, Dr. Michael K. Ong; his beloved younger brother Edmund; loving twin nephews Raymond and Steven (wife Susan); adventuresome nephew David (wife Faye); thoughtful nephew Gary (wife Barbara); adoring nieces Deanna Williams (husband Craig) and Melissa Meisner (husband Stephen); loving nephew Michael (wife Carol); and many grandnieces and grandnephews. George was predeceased by his older brother Raymond and his wife Antoinette, and younger brother Ronald (partner Bill Tower).

George’s memory will forever remain in the hearts of countless friends and family, especially his neighbors at the Victoria Park Tower and the myriads of snowbirds from Argentina, New York, Toronto, Montreal, Kansas, Denver and elsewhere.

George’s strong faith in God’s eternal love provides solace to those he leaves behind. We shall all be comforted knowing that George is going home to his Maker, and that we shall meet again.

                                                        May George rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to you.