At the age of 96, our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather George M. Kalambokis passed away peacefully on Monday, April 10, 2023. He maintained strong family ties and friendships in his longtime home of Boston, Massachusetts, as well as his more recent community in Palm Harbor, Florida.George was the beloved husband of the late Dimitra (Georgountzos) Kalambokis, father of daughter Vula and her late husband Konstantinos Roumis, and son Michael and his wife Ginnie Kalambokis. He was also the cherished papou of Danae Roumis, Dr. Demetris Roumis and wife Marlene Flores, Demi and husband Jorge Figueroa, Ana Kalambokis and partner Daniel Rodriguez, and Stephanie Kalambokis.  He was also the great-grandfather to Sofia, Melanie, and Michael.

Raised in Meligala in Peloponnesus, Greece, George was the eldest of six children: surviving brother Konstantinos Kalambokis, surviving sister Chryssa Kouridakou, late Panayiota (Toula) Pappa, late Konstantina (Nitsa) Michaelidou, and late Theodore Kalambokis. George is also survived by many adored cousins, nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends in the U.S and Greece.

George had a full life and devoted himself first to his wife and family. His large and inviting personality helped him form an extensive network of friends. It was not uncommon for him to find one of them wherever he traveled. Together with Dimitra and their dear friends, George's travels covered 40+ countries across several continents over 20 years. The details about their destinations and adventures were always anticipated upon their return - often retold with suspense, humor, and wonder, and reliably documented through volumes of photographs that captured all these wonderful memories.  George and Dimitra loved to explore the local shops in each country and enriched their home with mementos. This made for an enchanting and inspiring environment for his children and grandchildren, and conveyed George's core value - that life should be lived through first-hand experience, for the purpose of community, and with an appreciation of all cultures.

George began his travels shortly after finishing his accounting studies in Greece. He and his best friend (future brother-in-law) emigrated to Brazil to seek out economic opportunities in the mid-1950s. He and Dimitra (who had traveled to Brazil to visit her brother) married and opened their own business while raising their young family in Sao Paulo. In 1966, they immigrated to the U.S. seeking better economic and educational opportunities for their children. Here, George owned and operated his own business for many years, which became a staple in the community. George took pride in his work and derived much joy out of interacting with his customers.

George felt it was important to become a member of the community and give back through service, time, and effort. His growing involvement began at the Annunciation Cathedral in Boston as a board member holding different posts of leadership throughout the years. He loved to promote the ideals of Greek culture, language, and faith.  He was honored to be distinguished as an Archon (Order of Saint Andrew) and participated in events both in Boston and Florida. Both he and Dimitra volunteered and were integral members of several organizations promoting education, youth camps, and diaspora connections with Greece.  Even after retiring, he volunteered to give haircuts to seminarians studying at Hellenic College as well as residents of the Hellenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; he also served as an active member in local AHEPA organizations, delegating to SAE (Word Council of Hellenes Abroad), volunteering at Diocese of Boston events, and serving as a member in Messinian Society. They did all this while splitting their time during retirement between the U.S. and Greece - maintaining ties with their immediate and extended family in both places.

In addition to traveling and volunteering, George and his wife Dimitra were also avid gardeners, growing vegetables, tending to fruit trees, and filling up the yard with flowers and plants. Being outside energized them and gave them great joy and pride. He loved to take photographs to share with family that showed the year's abundant fruit or the gorgeous flowering trees. Always the romantic, George would often bring flowers from the garden to give to his Dimitra, placing them in the center of the kitchen table. He would do so with equal enthusiasm each and every time, an illustrative example of the zest for life that George had and inspired in others.

His beloved family, friends, relatives, and community will bring him flowers now with that same unwavering love, as we remember and honor the life of George Kalambokis.  May his memory be eternal.

Funeral services on Thursday, April 20, 2023 in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England, 514 Parker St., Boston, MA at 11 AM . Visitation will take place in the church before the funeral services from 10- 11 am.

Interment Curlew Hills Memory Gardens ,Palm Harbor, Florida 34683

Donations in his name may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England (mailing address) 162 Goddard Avenue Brookline, MA 02445 or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 409 S. Old Coachman Road Clearwater, Florida 33765.