BROCKTON, MA - George R. Papas, one of the most vociferous and energetic local politicians and liberal activists in Brockton's recent history, died tragically as a result of injuries sustained in a fire at his home on December 5th. He was 74 years of age.
A teacher of art in the Stoughton Middle School for 30 years, George combined the sensibilities of an artist and a love of literature with the uncompromising brashness of a man who devoted his life to righting wrongs and fighting for what he considered to be the highest principals of democracy and human rights. If there was a war to be protested or a strike to be supported, you could find George on the picket line. He was a man who was determined to "make a difference," and he succeeded.
Moving to Brockton in 1962, George threw himself immediately into the political life of the city. He ran the local headquarters for the presidential campaign of Eugene McCarthy in 1968, served as Brockton coordinator for the gubernatorial campaign of Kevin White in 1970, served as local campaign director for presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972, and went to the Democratic National Convention in Miami that year as a McGovern delegate.
Determined to hold political office himself, he made two unsuccessful runs for School Committee starting in the 1960's, but returned undaunted to secure a seat on Brockton's City Council in the 1970's as a member of a controversial group of young reformers labeled by their opponents "The Sinister Seven". Later, after a hiatus from public office for more than a decade, he returned to the Council for two terms in the 1990's to help rescue the city from a fiscal crisis, and served as Council President in 1992. As an office holder as well as in his personal life, George was respected by friends and political opponents alike for always "telling it like it is."
Although he had the mind of a social activist George had the soul of a poet and the hands of an artist. He painted whenever he could find the time, bold abstracts, often filled with political and social symbolism. Studying Italian Civilization, in Italy under a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship, he created a number of colorful oil pastel sketches to add to his portfolio. He even organized a juried art show at Brockton High School that with the help of his many friends, mushroomed into a three-day cultural festival called Summerfest that attracted thousands of people for several years in the early '70's.
Confined to a hospital from the age of two to twelve because of an infection that settled in his hip, George turned to reading as an escape from his confinement. Later, as an adult polymath, books continued to be an open doorway through which he explored an ever-widening circle of interests. At the time of his childhood illness he was told he would never walk again, but with courage and determination he regained his mobility, although with a noticeable limp, and even played softball on one of Brockton's City League teams.
George was loved by his family and admired by a loyal cadre of friends, as a strong willed, exceptionally intelligent, and exceedingly well-informed man for whom life had a clear purpose: to make the world a better place.
George Papas was born in Boston in 1933, son of the late John and Beatrice (Trudell) Papas, and brother of the late Nicholas Papas. He attended Boston schools, and graduated from Boston State College with a BA in Education. He studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and at Massachusetts College of Art, Boston. He studied poetry at Harvard University. George received National Endowment for the Humanities grants, one to study Theatre of the Holocaust at the University of Wisconsin and another to study Literature of the Holocaust at Hollins University in Virginia.
Among his many affiliations, he was a member of the Fulbright Association, the Stoughton Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the National Education Association, and was past president of the D.W. Field's Park Association. George was also a long time member of the Brockton Democratic City Committee and served as chair of the Ward One committee for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carole (Bumpus) Papas, their daughter, Sandra Papas-Summers, his son-in-law, David Summers, all of Brockton, and a son Myles Papas of Alabama. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Sandy Papas, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be Saturday January 5th from 1-3 PM in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte. 123) Brockton, followed by a memorial tribute from 3–4 PM.
Donations in George's name may be made to The Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 10 Brookline Place West 6th Floor Brookline, MA 02445, for online donations click here