George, age 90, of Ramsey, NJ, fell asleep in the Lord, peacefully, surrounded by his family on November 27, 2024. George was born in Brooklyn, NY to immigrant parents, Anastasia (nee Tragas) and Harry George Kokkinakis, both born in Sparta, Greece, arriving to America during the Great Depression. George was predeceased by his sister, Helen Karukas, in 1988.

Spiritually dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ, George devoted his life to His Church, to Family, to Country and to work that improves quality of life through advances in science and technology. George served as Chairman of Merrill Lynch Venture Capital Inc., and co-managed the formation of three venture capital partnerships. The portfolio investments were primarily technology-based, many of which developed into leading public corporations employing tens of thousands. George also held positions with Exxon Enterprises, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell Management Consulting, Curtiss-Wright Corp. and General Electric Corp.

From its inception in 1969, George and several other initial founders were committed to the establishment of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Wyckoff, NJ. He served on the first Parish Council and was also Co-Chairman of the Building Committee for construction of the Multi-Purpose Building, which served as Church and Community Center, and was dedicated on April 13, 1973. Following Reverend Father James C. Moulketis becoming priest of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in 1975, a formal Church was required, due to rapid Parishioner growth, George served as Co-Chairman of the Church Building Program as well as Chairman of the Church Building Fund-Drive. The new Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was dedicated on November 10, 1985, by His Grace, Bishop Athenagoras of Dorylaion. Following the Divine Liturgy and Thyranoixia for the new Church, George was honored as one of the two godfathers, with Dr. Elias Tsoukas, receiving the Medal of St. Paul. On March 8, 1987, he was also conferred as Archon of The Order of Saint Andrew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos. George also served on the Parish Council of Holy Trinity – Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Cincinnati, prior to moving his family to NJ, participating in the location of the land for the new church.

In 1960, George graduated from the University of Cincinnati, first in his class, with the Degree of Aeronautical Engineering. He also earned an MBA Degree from Xavier University, Ohio. George served with the U.S. Army in Berlin, Germany. He was proud to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a WWI veteran and had served in combat in France. George, and his wife Mary Ann, were blessed to have traveled extensively, including a spiritually moving Church pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, where they renewed their Baptismal Vows in the Jordan River; they also visited the Holy See in Constantinople, where they were honored to be received by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Mary Ann and George enjoyed ballooning over the vineyards in Napa Valley and Epernay, France… parasailing also in many of the Greek Islands. In October 2019, George went flying in one of the nine remaining airworthy B-17s...honoring the men and women who built and served on these bombers, taking terrible losses but which were a critical factor in the victory of WWII.

George & Mary Ann shared interests in opera, ballet, and Broadway shows. George also had an avid interest in gardening, Ancestry Family Genealogy, photography / movies, and all genres of music, primarily the classics…enjoying his vintage collection of vinyl records. Into his senior years, George expanded his studies of the Eastern Orthodox Religion (St. Gregory Palamas: Transfiguration / Uncreated Light / Energeia and Ousia of God). George also continued the study of his interests in hypersonics, biotech, semiconductors and astrophysics.

George is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Mary Ann (nee Andon) as well as their cherished children...Harry and his wife Maria, Anastasia, Steven and his wife Rebecca, Chris, Anne and her husband William. George and Mary Ann were also blessed with nine grandchildren...MaryAnna, Hannah, Emily, Eric, Alexander, Sarah, Austin, Georgeanne and Abigail…who brought much joy and love to their lives.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on December 2, 2024 at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 467 Grandview Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. Trisagion service will be at 10:45 a.m. Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery, 580 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

“LOVE NEVER ENDS”