George Steven Kalarites, known to many as “Mr. K,” passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Blair House in Tewksbury, following a period of declining health. He was 84.
Born on May 17, 1942, George was the son of the late Steven Kalarites, a native of Greece, and the late Photine (Kratimenes) Kalarites. He grew up in Lowell, where he developed an early love of movement, competition, and the outdoors. He graduated from Lowell High School, Class of 1959, and went on to earn his degree from Suffolk University. He later received his Master’s degree in Education from Utah State University.
George dedicated 38 years of his life to the children of Tewksbury, teaching in the Tewksbury Public Schools, with his longest tenure at Ryan Elementary School. There, generation after generation of students came to know and love him as “Mr. K.” For 18 of those years, he also served as the girls’ tennis coach at Tewksbury High School, bringing to the court the same quiet encouragement and steady presence that defined him in the classroom. Education was not simply his profession, but his vocation, and the impact he made on his students lives on.
Outside the classroom, George was most at home in motion. An avid runner and lifelong lover of sport, the energy that defined his younger years remained with him throughout his life. He was a devoted fan of the Grateful Dead, whose music accompanied him wherever he went, and an enthusiastic camper who made it his mission to explore the country’s natural beauty. Ogunquit, Chauncey Creek, and Hermit Island along the coast of Maine held a special place in his heart, and he returned to them often. He was equally drawn to the wide skies of Montana and the sweeping canyon landscapes of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
He is survived by his son, Steven Kalarites, and his wife, Anna, of North Carolina, and by his two beloved granddaughters, Abigail and Emma.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury. A service of remembrance will follow at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory may be made to the Lowell Humane Society at www.lowellhumanesociety.org/donate.
Arrangements are under the care of the Tewksbury Funeral Home. For additional information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com.