In Memory of

George

Dean

Cholakis

Obituary for George Dean Cholakis

MIAMI – George Dean Cholakis, 58, beloved husband of Linda Cooper, who was the love of his life, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 8, 2017 in Miami, Florida.

Born in Troy, on September 22, 1959, George was the oldest child of Despina “Dassie” (Michaelides) Cholakis of North Greenbush and the late Constantine George Cholakis, former United States District Judge.

George was a graduate of the LaSalle Institute in Troy. He furthered his education at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont and later at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida. He had been a resident of South Florida since 1986. Upon his graduation from Law School, George immediately joined the Dade County State Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor and worked under then State Attorney Janet Reno who would later become Attorney General of the United States.

George loved his career as a prosecutor and developed a name for himself by successfully prosecuting a number of high profile cases in the Miami area. George later went into private practice as a criminal defense attorney.

George loved and had a zest for life. He was passionate about his hobbies and interests and the vigor with which he pursued them was inspiring to all. Of all of George’s interests, none were more important to him than the love he had for his wife, his family and his many friends.

George was an avid and long-time fan of the Miami Dolphins. He was an active and dedicated member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Miami where he held various parish offices. He had also served as chairman of and, for many years, helped to organize the St. Sophia Annual Festival.

In addition to his wife and mother, George is survived by his sister, Catherine (Richard Kemner) Cholakis of Brunswick; his brother, Gregory Cholakis of Troy; his niece, Anastasia Cholakis; his aunts and uncles, Nicholas and Helen Cholakis of Latham, Katherine (late Thomas) Cholakis of North Greenbush, Mary (late Con) Koutsakis of Albany and the late John Michaelides; his mother-in-law, Libby Cooper of Brooklyn. Additionally, George is survived by his dear and life-long friend Nicky Thomas of Latham as well as many other nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and members of the Cooper family.

Services for George, in Florida, will be held on Friday, October 13, 2017 at 10 am in St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2401 S.W. 3rd Avenue in Miami. Visiting will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 from 6 until 9 pm at the Van Orsdel Funeral Home, Coral Gables Chapel, 4600 S.W. 8 Street, Coral Gables.

Local services, to which all are invited, will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 10:30 am in St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany. Interment will follow in the Cholakis family plot in Graceland Cemetery, Albany. There will be no local visiting hours.

The Cholakis family requests that flowers not be sent and that those who wish to remember George in a special way make a donation to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208 or, in honor of his father, to St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center, 19 Warehouse Row, Albany, NY 12205.

Affiliations


Greek Orthodox Cross