George A. Giovanis

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – George A. Giovanis, 64, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, passed away suddenly on July 25, 2022, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine.

Born in 1958, in Portsmouth, George was the only child of Arthur and Eva (Brickates) Giovanis. He spent his childhood in both Portsmouth and his mother’s hometown of Saco, Maine, eventually graduating from Thornton Academy in 1976.

After Thornton, George went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from University of Southern Maine in 1981 and a Juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law in 1985. He was licensed to practice in Maine, New Hampshire and Florida, specializing in real estate and commercial law.

George spent his early years as a lawyer working with his uncles, George and Robert Brickates at their firm in Biddeford, Maine. He went on to became the bank attorney for Pepperell Bank and Trust in Biddeford, later rising to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

At Pepperell, George guided the bank through a major expansion, culminating with its acquisition by Bangor Savings Bank in 2007. After the merger, George retired from banking and focused on real estate investing through his company Mani Capital Ventures, splitting his time between his childhood home in Portsmouth and beach house in Old Orchard Beach.

In addition to a successful career in law and business, George was an active member of the Greek American community and a parishioner of both St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Biddeford and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Portsmouth. He was also a supporter of the St. Demetrios Cemetery in Biddeford and a member and past president of the Society of Lacones of Northern New England.

Proud of his Greek heritage, George was a frequent traveler to Greece, where he enjoyed researching his family’s roots and connecting with relatives. He also loved traveling to vibrant destinations such as Las Vegas, Miami, New York, London, Paris, and the Greek Islands.

George was also extremely social, loving nothing better than to meet up with friends or family for dinner and lively conversation. For all the things George valued and considered precious, there was nothing he cherished more than being with family and friends, and will be dearly missed by them.

George was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Eva Giovanis. He is survived by Lewis Brickates and his family, Agapy (Brickates) Lane and her family, Valerie (Brickates) Kennedy and her family, Elene Birch, and many cousins. 

Visiting Hours are from 5-8 p.m., with Trisagion Prayers at 6 p.m., on Thursday, July 28, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel in Saco. Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saco. Burial will follow at St. Demetrios Cemetery in Biddeford.

To view George’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.cotefuneralhome.com.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in George’s name to St. Demetrios Cemetery.