Page created by: The Matouk Family

George Fuad Matouk - husband, father, grandfather, and a generally amazing person who was beloved by so many people - passed away peacefully on October 20, 2022 surrounded by his family. He died of complications related to Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 85. He is survived by his loving wife Priscilla (Nackley), his children John, George (Mindy Aronow) and Margot, and grandchildren Virginia, Violet, Margot, and Sophia and Charlie (Stafford) and sister Selma Quinn (Jack). He was predeceased by his wife Virginia (Plasteras), parents Maude and John, and brother Gian-Piero Bonechi.

A lifetime New Yorker, George grew up in Brooklyn playing stickball, rooting for the Dodgers, going to church, excelling at school and enjoying Syrian delicacies prepared by his mother Maude. He graduated from Xavier High School and Villanova University before serving his country as an officer in the US Navy. George was known for his humorous, patient, kind and optimistic spirit. He was a great listener and he came to know everyone in his life on a warm and personal level.

In 1963, he joined the luxury linen manufacturer John Matouk & Co., founded by his beloved father of the same name and became President after John’s untimely death in 1966. He dedicated the next 40 years of his career to this company he cared so deeply about, earning esteemed status in the industry and nurturing deeply fulfilling relationships with his employees, suppliers and customers. George and his dear brother-in-law Paul Hooker acquired the small importing company Sferra Bros. in 1975 and together they built it into a second force in the luxury linen industry.

In 1967, he married Virginia Plasteras, his wife of 25 years until she passed away in 1992. Together they built a family and raised three children who were all at George’s side until his final day. The family lived in Manhattan and spent summers on the Jersey Shore with Virginia’s extensive family who immediately adopted George as one of their own, even referring to him as “Saint George”.

In 1994, Priscilla brought love back into George’s life. They married in 1995 and together spent 27 blissful years filled with laughter, adventure, friends, family, Villanova basketball games and crossword puzzles. They traveled extensively with Priscilla’s sisters, Barbara and Diane, and their families. Hand-in-hand, through thick-and-thin, they battled and repeatedly defeated this arch-enemy. He met the never-ending complications of the disease with his signature stoicism, determination, grace and humor. Although afflicted with this difficult condition, he continued to make the most of every single day, enjoying daily walks in his beloved Central Park, dining at his favorite restaurants, frequenting the opera and theater, and hitting the Big East Tournament to root for his beloved Wildcats. With a cane, walker and finally wheelchair, George and Priscilla managed to travel around the country and the world.

Most importantly, he was a loving, entertaining and ever-present "Papou" to his five lucky grandchildren: Virginia, Violet, Margot, Sophia and Charlie. George's boundless positivity, strength and perseverance in the face of Parkinson's was an inspiration to everyone in his life, particularly to those diagnosed with the disease and their loved ones.

George never ceased to connect with a wide range of people in a meaningful way. He could put just about anyone at ease within seconds of meeting them and he had boundless warmth, generosity, humor and kindness to offer anyone lucky enough to have come into contact with him. Whether or not you knew George, we can assure you that he wouldn’t want you to be sad about his passing. He lived a long life full of accomplishments and blessings, large and small, which he appreciated every single day. And if this news has you down, he would encourage you to focus on the positive things around you and to maintain the same optimistic spirit he carried with him no matter what challenges or opportunities that life presented for him.

George's legacy will be his inherent goodness and tenacity to experience life to its absolute fullest. May his memory continue to be an inspiration to us all.

A celebration of George's life with family and friends will take place on Friday, October 28 from 4-8 at Frank E. Campbell, 1076 Madison Ave, New York City. Please come with any stories of memories of George you would like to share.

Funeral Mass will be Saturday, October 29 at 10 a.m at St. Thomas More Church, New York City.

In Lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation by pressing the donations link at the top of this page.