George Michael Kavros

George Michael “Chic” Kavros, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2024, at 99.75 years of age. Chic was born on November 28, 1924, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Michael George and Adamandia Kavros. He was one of four children, including sisters Katherine (deceased) and Reynea (deceased) and brother James. Because he had a B+ average during his senior year in high school, they allowed him to graduate early so that he could join the Navy to serve his country in World War II on the U.S.S. Saginaw Bay. He completed two years of college at the University of Pittsburgh before working to support his family at the local steel mill after the death of his father. It was Chic’s mother, Adamandia, who first met Irene Miller when she was only 14 years old, and she hoped Irene might someday want to marry her son. Her dream came true when Irene was just a few months shy of 19, and they enjoyed nearly 74 years of marriage. They went on to have two children, Dianne and Michael. Chic began working for All American Airlines in 1947 as a mechanic’s helper, operating radios and sometimes chasing deer and bears off the runway. When they transitioned to a passenger airline, he became certified through the International Association of Machinists (IAM). Though he knew from his time in the Navy that he wanted to work on airplanes, he realized he enjoyed working with people even more. When the IAM became the bargaining unit for the airline, he began as the spokesperson for his group and eventually became very involved in the Labor Movement. Over his 47 years of working through multiple airline mergers that concluded with USAir, he served as a shop steward, as part of the IAM negotiating team, as Assistant General Chairman, and as a District 141 Executive Board member. Chic was most proud of his work helping people get their jobs back through his mediation work. He deeply understood that someone’s life at home could affect their jobs and vice versa and was at the dawn of ensuring that employees had access to benefits that helped people with substance abuse or mental health issues as well as financial troubles. Of his work, he said, “Those who are able to spend their lives doing what they enjoy should consider themselves lucky. Those who are able to spend their lives doing what they enjoy while at the same time helping others should consider themselves blessed. I’ve been both lucky and blessed.” Chic was also a member of the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA) serving on his chapter’s local board and he was a 32nd degree Mason. In his retirement, Chic loved being in his yard, mowing his lawn up a steep hill until he was nearly 95 years old. He also enjoyed spending time at Lake Anna, where he was frequently the one to start the burning of brush and tree limbs. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren telling them stories, teaching them to play cards, putting puzzles together, taking them on walks, teaching them to ride bikes, riding rollercoasters with them, and snuggling on the couch. He was known for telling jokes, having the best puns, continuing to complete daily Sudoku puzzles, and playing solitaire on his iPad. He is survived by his wife Irene, their daughter Dianne Kavros Fogarty (Bob), their son Michael Kavros (Roxanne), their grandchildren Eleni Kavros DeGraw (Allen), Patrick Kavros, and Teddy Kavros; their great-grandchildren Callista, Sabrina, Lucas, Nico, and Jacobi. Calling hours will be Monday, August 26 at 10 a.m. at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Guide Dogs of America (mail to: 13445 Glenoaks Boulevard, Sylmar, CA 91342) https://give.guidedogsofamerica.org/give/551762/#!/donation/checkout or checks to St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041.

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George Michael Kavros

November 28, 1924 - August 21, 2024