George Aristotle Theophanis died suddenly at his home in Stuart, Florida on April 17, 2014. He was born in New York City on January 17, 1931, the son of Alexandra Anthony and Peter Theophanis. The family, including his sister Irene, resided in the Riverdale area of the Bronx. He graduated from Horace Mann High School and received his Bachelors of Science in Physics from Kenyon College. Following college, he served as a LT in the US Navy from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War on the Destroyer USS Badger where he circumnavigated the globe.


He began his career in experimental physics at AVCO (now TEXTRON) after separating from the Navy and moved with the corporation to Massachusetts. His work at AVCO began with the development and testing of reentry heat shields for various spacecraft during the early days of space exploration. He designed and conducted novel experiments to simulate the effects encountered by space vehicles under attack and while reentering the earth's atmosphere. Later in his career at TEXTRON, his focus turned to the development of CO2 laser technology for Department of Defense and commercial applications. He participated in the development of some of the most powerful CO2 lasers ever built.


He and his wife, Susan, were married in 1958 and resided in Reading MA for 56 years while restoring their colonial period home and spending summers on the water at their Gloucester beach house. In Reading, he was active in town government serving many years as a Town Meeting member and a Bylaw Committee member. He was a long-time member of the Reading Symphony Orchestra serving as Chairman for several years. He and his family were members of the Good Shepard Episcopal Church. He was at home on the water where he fished for lobsters and sailed his beloved Compass Rose. This eclectic set of interests and talents along with a love for his family are the legacy that he has left for his children and grandchildren.


He leaves his wife, Susan; sons, Peter, Stephen, Jamie and daughter Christina and their families of six grandsons, Aristotle, Dorian, Oliver, Nicholas, Sebastian, Alex, and two granddaughters, Maia and Johnna . He also leaves his sister Irene Hanson of Colorado, nephews Richard, Douglas and Donald Hanson, and niece Alicia and their families; and close cousins Nicholas Anagnostis and Mariannthe Bode of Essex and her family.


A memorial service will be held on June 13, 2014 at the Annisquam Village Church 820 Washington St. Gloucester MA at 1:00 PM. 978 281-0376

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:
Wounded Veterans Project
P.O. Box 758517
Topeka, Kansas 66675