GEORGE SOCRATES GIOURGAS's Obituary
Attorney and businessman George Socrates Giourgas, 86, was born June 11, 1929 and died January 23, 2016. Mr. Giourgas served his country during the Korean War and earned the rank of major in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attended the University of West Virginia and graduated with a degree in accounting. From there, Mr. Giourgas moved to Florida and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami Law School. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1959 and remained a resident of his beloved South Florida until his death. While still in college, Mr. Giourgas discovered his passion for business after starting a peanut vending company. His move to South Florida provided him the ability and freedom to pursue this passion in the form of his first restaurant purchase, “The Silver Dollar.” Around this time, he also established some of the first concession areas on what is now South Beach. These small businesses continued to grow and lead to other opportunities in food service and retail operations. In 1970, he secured the food and beverage contract for historical Miami Marine Stadium on Key Biscayne. This acquisition propelled Mr. Giourgas to later create Worldwide Concessions and Food Service, a national company with contracts and holdings at many major U.S. stadiums. Together with his brother, Mike, and drawing from his Greek heritage, he opened “The Greek Warrior” restaurants in Tallahassee and Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Giourgas practiced law for over forty-five years and was involved in the purchase and management of numerous properties in South Florida and Greater Miami-Dade, including along Miracle Mile and 8th Street districts in Coral Gables. Mr. Giourgas was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), Florida Bar Association, as well as serving as treasurer for St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church.
Mr. Giourgas is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Peggy, and survived by his children, Kathie Sitton (Ken), Socrates Giourgas (Lisa), and George Giourgas, Jr. (Jade), and his grandchildren, Jacqueline Sitton, Lance Sitton, Geordie Giourgas, Michael Giourgas, Olivia Giourgas, Christopher Giourgas, brother Mike Giourgas (Bonnie), and niece Barbra Giourgas. We will miss his tremendous love, humor, wit, and intellect. The Giourgas family would like to extent their heartfelt gratitude to The Palace at Home, Michelle Morris, Shirley Ferguson, and Mercedes Lopez for their loving care of our father. A viewing will be held at VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES CHAPEL on Sunday Jan 31 from 3-5pm and funeral service at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2401 SW 3rd Ave at 10:00am Monday Feb 1.
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