George E. Azar, 89, of Dartmouth died at St. Luke's Hospital on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. He was born on January 5, 1927, the eve of the Epiphany, in Fall River, Massachusetts and was a fraternal twin to Louis who died at birth. He was the youngest son of the late Essa (Jesus) and Edna Izzir (Azar).
George was a U.S. patriot. He felt blessed for serving our country during World War II as part of the United States Navy, where he served as a shipmate in the South Pacific. Although he planned to attend college, he left high school as a Junior to enlist in the war. He was a decorated veteran and received numerous medals, battle stars and campaign ribbons for his gallant service, yet he was always quick to say that the true heroes were those servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for America.
Upon his return from the war he became an apprentice machinist and eventually working his way up the ladder to obtain high-level security clearance in his work as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Navy, stationed at the Newport Naval Base and the Naval Underwater Systems Controls division, known then as NUSC. He attended the U.S. Naval Underwater College in Key West, FL where he worked with modern underwater military technology, including the use of dolphins. He went on to become part of the NUSC teams that developed and tested modern defensive weapons and inertial guidance systems for ballistic missiles. He tested such missile defense systems, trajectories, and other modern military technology around the globe, on various submarines and frigates, travelling nearly 9 months a year until his retirement at the age of 53. We honor George for the sacrifices he made in helping to preserve the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today and due to Americans like him leaving their families to enlist to protect our freedoms. While he was very proud of his Lebanese and Assyrian family roots, he loved his country and was a true American patriot; photos of he and representing his military service, can be found in the Military and WWII Museum at Fort Taber Park, New Bedford, MA.
A life-long supporter of academics and education, in 2000 he and other veterans who left high school to enlist and serve in WWII, were elated when awarded their High School Diplomas. George finally received his diploma from Durfee High School, Fall River, MA at the age of 73.
George lived an active life of deep love, great joy, and faith. He was a life-long parishioner of both Saint Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church in Fall River where he had served as a young altar boy, and Our Lady of Purgatory Maronite Church in New Bedford; he sang in both choirs for many years. In 1994, George and his wife Flora were awarded the Silver Massabki Medal by the National Association of Maronites, one of the highest honors bestowed on Maronite Catholics. The award is presented to select parish members who make valued contributions of time, talent, and treasure in their parish communities.
George had a great love for life and could often be found spending his personal time cooking and entertaining friends and family, as well as biking, swimming and hunting deer. He was an avid environmentalist and conservationist, shotgun and bow hunting enthusiast, and for many years fed his family with the meat he hunted. He believed in hunting for fresh food, not merely for sport. Throughout his life he enjoyed a host of pastimes and activities, but mostly he enjoyed serving the needs of others and loved being with his family and his life-long friends at the Lebanon American Society and Mount Lebanon Men's Club in Fall River, MA where he was the longest-serving elected President and Commander of the American Lebanese War Veterans Association, Philip Sabra Post. There he joined old childhood friends to play daily games of Bid Wist, Cribbage, and Backgammon. He was a tireless fundraiser for worthy causes; he could often be found planning outings and highly-successful fundraisers for the club and its veterans, as well as supporting local, county, state and federal political candidates, and various charitable organizations. While he was a first generation American, George spoke fluent Arabic and was quite proud of his native Lebanese - Assyrian heritage. He travelled the globe and visited Lebanon and Middle East several times.
George was very musical, loved the arts, and had it not been for his military service and setting roots in the Fall River - New Bedford region to raise his family, he may have been a famous opera singer. In his youth, he was trained by the best voice coaches in Manhattan, donned quite a dashing stage presence, travelling as a singer (tenor) with the Ted Mack Show, where he met his beloved wife, Flora, and soul mate of 68 years, while appearing in a show at the Lincoln Park Ballroom. As a newly married couple, they lived in NYC and returned to South Eastern Massachusetts to raise their family, as well as care for extended family. He was an early member of Your Theatre in New Bedford and he sang for many weddings and other engagements state-wide throughout his life, but George was most well-known for his cooking. George was an avid chef who learned the craft from his mother, his older brother John, and during his time in the Navy. He cooked for large and small personal, political, professional and charitable functions. He was a natural and true chef, always able to create something delicious and visually pleasing at the drop of a hat and with few ingredients on hand. He believed in healthy cooking with fresh ingredients and his daughter Claudette authored a charitable Middle Eastern recipe storybook entitled, With Loving Hands (2008), to share her father's and other family recipes with the public. The book was chosen in late 2009 to be featured at the Miami International Book Fair, the largest literary event in the nation. George often appeared at book signings and cooking demonstrations with his daughter.
While a bit of a traditionalist, he was also a life-long advocate for equality for women and was an early supporter and benefactor of the New Bedford Women's Center.
George was married to his loving wife, Flora (Coury) Azar, for 65 years and he was a beloved father to Claudette A. Azar-Kenyon (and her husband Dr. Louis P. Kenyon) and Janine M. Azar, all of Dartmouth, MA. He was the brother to Judith "Judy" Oliveira of Fall River and the late Louis Azar (his twin), the late John Azar, the late Mary Shabo, the late Eva Koohy, and the late Marguerite "Peggy" Silva. He is survived by several dear nieces, nephews and many Godchildren who carry the Shabo, Koohy, Silva, Oliveira and Sweet surnames.
He supported his family, his fellow veterans, and his community in all things. He was a generous and dedicated care giver, serving and loving so many veterans, family members, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, friends, immigrants from Lebanon, animals, and others who would pass through his life - he was always there to help and give whatever he had to assist others. He lived gratefully, he loved deeply; he cherished life, his faith, his country, and his family, and was dedicated to any good he could bring to the world and those in it. He loved the Lord and strived to live his life in the example of the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and love thy neighbor.
Instead of flowers, George would hope that you would make a donation to the Buttonwood Park (New Bedford) Senior Center, where he enjoyed many fun card games and Bingo, or the O'Connor-Sisson House for Veterans, (please make checks payable to Partners in Housing, Inc.) c/o 2 Anderson Way, Dartmouth, MA 02747, or do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor unfortunate soul, in his name, and to remember to always find ways to bring God's mercy and love to our wounded world.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by the Divine Liturgy in Our Lady of Purgatory Church at 10 AM. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-8 PM.
For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.