Very Reverend Athanasios G George (Fr. Tom) July 17, 1937- December 6, 2021 Reverend Father Athanasios Gregory George was born July 17, 1937, in Belvidere, Illinois. He is the only child of Nicholas and Ethel George, loving parents who guided their son to follow the footsteps of Christ. He has been known all his life as Tom. The George family moved to Michigan in 1939. He was always close to the Church, serving in the Altar, as a member of Jr. GOYA and later Sr. GOYA. He joined the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church choir at the age of fourteen. It was during his later years in choir that he met Demetra Jeanne Xenakis who soon became his loving wife and eventually his Presbytera. They were married at the Assumption Church in Detroit on June 19, 1966. This marriage brought forth their wonderful children Rebecca, Christina, Joanna and Paul. On March 19, 1972, Athanasios (Tom) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Detroit and served almost all of his Diaconate at the SS. Constantine and Helen Church of Detroit. On September 14, 1974, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Detroit at which time he was assigned to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Flint, Michigan, where he served for twenty-one years. On October 2, 1983, Fr. Tom was elevated by Bishop Timothy of Detroit to the rank of Confessor and Steward (Oikonomos) and on September 28, 1986, to Protopresbyter at the consecration of the Assumption Church in Flint, Michigan. While in Flint, Fr. Tom instituted the annual Greek Festival and directed a $1.5 Million dollar building expansion program which was completed in 1981. He was also instrumental in forming the Holy Cross Society, a Pan Orthodox cooperative endeavor which united the three canonical Orthodox parishes in Genessee County, thereby perpetuating, strengthening, and making Orthodoxy very visual through various religious and educational programs. He was very active in the Metropolis of Detroit Summer Camp program in Rose City where he spent a week every summer for 25 years. He loved interacting with the youth. Fr. Tom was also involved in ecumenical work. He was instrumental in the institution of the Apostolic Clergy Association comprised of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Byzantine Catholic and Anglican clergy. On October 1, 1995, he was appointed by His Grace Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh (Locum Tenans-Detroit) to assume the position of Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral of Detroit. He was also a member of the Christian Communication Council of Metropolitan Detroit; an organization representing almost 2000 Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Metropolitan Detroit and Windsor area. He retired from the Priesthood in October 2012, and remained strong in his connections with his faith and parishioners. Fr. Tom is survived by his wife Demetra (Jeanne), his daughters Rebecca Papas, Christina George, Joanna (Jeff) Hadsell, son Paul George, and his 7 grandchildren: George Papas, Athan Papas, Demetri Papas, Christopher Peppes, Nicholas Peppes, Alaina Hadsell and Ava Hadsell. Visitation for Fr. Tom will take place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Friday, December 10th from 1-8pm, the Trisagion Service, 7pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 11th; Instate 10:00am until the time of the funeral 11:00am at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 707 E. Lafayette, Detroit. A private burial for the family will take place on Monday at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. Donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. We would like to thank Shelby Rehabilitation Center for all the care, love and support they gave Fr. Tom and our family.