George M Anastasi
April 29, 1939 ~ June 1, 2020
GEORGE MARTIN ANASTASI
It is with great sadness that the family of George M. Anastasi of Centreville, VA, announces his passing from this life on Monday, June 1, 2020, at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife, Roma Anastasi; his four children: Leah Hays (John), George M. Anastasi, II, “Chip” (Lee), Jennifer Anastasi (Nigel), and Noelle Anastasi; his four grandchildren: Olivia Hays, Matthew Anastasi, Jamie Anastasi, and John Hays, “Johnie”; and his five siblings: Louise Nowka (Sterling), Thompson Anastasi (Judy), David Anastasi (Kathy), Daniel Anastasi, and Wende Kennis (John).
George was born on April 29, 1939, to parents Louis M. Anastasi and Fern E. Anastasi (Thompson), the second of six children. He was raised in North Tonawanda, NY, and spent summers with his family on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education at the State University of New York in Brockport in 1963. While in college, he played football, ran track, and provided ski instruction. He enjoyed both power boat and auto racing. In the fall of 1963, George enlisted in the Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign in February 1964. His Naval career began at the submarine base in New London, CT, but he did not stay onshore long.
George’s 22 years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy widened his world and provided opportunities to develop skills that would prove beneficial to him later. He spent close to six years at sea, starting with his mission in August 1965 from Long Beach, CA, on the destroyer USS Turner Joy (DD-951), which took him to the Vietnam War. In September 1965 during a shore bombardment, he narrowly avoided a 5” shell that misfired and killed three sailors, wounding others. George served on the Turner Joy during its engagement in training missions in the Pacific and on a second tour to Vietnam until February 1967. During one return to Long Beach in February 1966, a close friend and shipmate, Jon Hickox, introduced his sister-in-law, Roma DeRocha, to George. Roma and George were married in April 1967 and started a family soon after.
Stationed in Newport, RI, and then in Charleston, SC, George’s time at sea further included the following tours:
USS Moale (DD-693) as a Weapons Officer, May 1968 to January 1970, on missions in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
USS Luiseno (ATF-156) as Commanding Officer (CO), July 1971 to September 1972, on salvage missions along the East Coast and the Caribbean. George was assigned as CO even though he was a lieutenant, which was uncommon given less than 1 percent of lieutenants at the time were selected to command.
USS Davis (DD-937) as Executive Officer, November 1975 to March 1977, on missions in Central and South America. The ship’s home port relocated from Newport to Charleston, and his family moved from Warren, RI to join him in Charleston in the summer of 1976, though he was at sea most of that time.
George was a hard-working and accomplished student during his Naval career and was awarded for the quality of instruction he provided, as well. While others took leave on the weekends, he actively engaged in his studies. His time in education included:
• Instructed at the Surface Warfare Officers School, February 1970 to June 1971, for which he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal
• Attended the highly selective Destroyer School in September 1972
• Instructed at the Naval War College from August 1974 until July 1975
• Graduated with honors from the Naval War College in 1981 with a Masters in Security and Strategic Studies
After his last tour at sea, George successfully applied for a position at the Bureau of Navy Personnel and then for a position with the Office of Chief Naval Operations, both located in Washington, D.C. His administrative policy and planning work, including the Navy’s recruitment program, earned him two Meritorious Medals, and positioned him well for the private sector. Other medals, honors and ribbons he earned during his Naval career include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, S&A Service Deployment Mission with 1 Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Surface Warfare Insignia, and the Command at Sea Badge. George retired as a Commander, USN in June 1985.
George transitioned from working for the Navy to working with the Navy when he joined Resource Consultants Inc. (RCI), a defense contractor, in 1985. During his 25 years working for RCI (later Serco), he successfully managed a world-wide organization that provided military personnel support to the Army and the Navy. Awarded more than once for his service and leadership, his role routinely took him to Germany and Korea to meet with his division directors. He retired as a Senior Vice President in February 2010 but continued to work part-time for Serco until 2014.
Devoted husband, father, and grandfather, “Pop Pop”, George was always present for his family. He drove all over the DC metro area (and beyond) to attend various sports games, concerts, and performances for his children and grandchildren up until March 2020. He refereed the swim meets for all four children from the time they were 7 years old and continued in this role at the request of the Northern Virginia Swimming League after they aged out at 18. He started coaching Jennifer’s soccer team when she was ten and continued until she graduated from high school. A gifted writer, he patiently reviewed Leah’s school papers (with some red ink) until she finally learned to write. He could not wait to hang the Christmas lights outside and cherished everything about the season, because it meant he could spend time with his family.
George was physically active and always busy with a project. When stationed in RI, he routinely took his family out on the Narragansett in the Chris-Craft style wooden boat he had constructed. He built and flew model planes with Chip and later small radio-controlled boats that he raced on lakes with a local boat club. George was skiing in February 2020 and greatly enjoyed annual trips to Killington, VT, and Canaan Valley with his family. He discovered his all-time favorite run in Vail, CO, with Chip and family: “China Bowl”. When he took time to sit in his lazy boy with a beer, it was to watch a Nascar race or a Redskins game with Noelle.
A man of faith, duty, integrity, loyalty, determination, strength, and honor, George left an indelible print on our hearts and we will dearly miss him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on June 11, 2020, at St. Veronica Catholic Church, 3460 Centreville Rd., Chantilly, VA. Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
It is with great sadness that the family of George M. Anastasi of Centreville, VA, announces his passing from this life on Monday, June 1, 2020, at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife, Roma Anastasi; his four children: Leah Hays (John), George M. Anastasi, II, “Chip” (Lee), Jennifer Anastasi (Nigel), and Noelle Anastasi; his four grandchildren: Olivia Hays, Matthew Anastasi, Jamie Anastasi, and John Hays, “Johnie”; and his five siblings: Louise Nowka (Sterling), Thompson Anastasi (Judy), David Anastasi (Kathy), Daniel Anastasi, and Wende Kennis (John).
George was born on April 29, 1939, to parents Louis M. Anastasi and Fern E. Anastasi (Thompson), the second of six children. He was raised in North Tonawanda, NY, and spent summers with his family on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education at the State University of New York in Brockport in 1963. While in college, he played football, ran track, and provided ski instruction. He enjoyed both power boat and auto racing. In the fall of 1963, George enlisted in the Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign in February 1964. His Naval career began at the submarine base in New London, CT, but he did not stay onshore long.
George’s 22 years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy widened his world and provided opportunities to develop skills that would prove beneficial to him later. He spent close to six years at sea, starting with his mission in August 1965 from Long Beach, CA, on the destroyer USS Turner Joy (DD-951), which took him to the Vietnam War. In September 1965 during a shore bombardment, he narrowly avoided a 5” shell that misfired and killed three sailors, wounding others. George served on the Turner Joy during its engagement in training missions in the Pacific and on a second tour to Vietnam until February 1967. During one return to Long Beach in February 1966, a close friend and shipmate, Jon Hickox, introduced his sister-in-law, Roma DeRocha, to George. Roma and George were married in April 1967 and started a family soon after.
Stationed in Newport, RI, and then in Charleston, SC, George’s time at sea further included the following tours:
USS Moale (DD-693) as a Weapons Officer, May 1968 to January 1970, on missions in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
USS Luiseno (ATF-156) as Commanding Officer (CO), July 1971 to September 1972, on salvage missions along the East Coast and the Caribbean. George was assigned as CO even though he was a lieutenant, which was uncommon given less than 1 percent of lieutenants at the time were selected to command.
USS Davis (DD-937) as Executive Officer, November 1975 to March 1977, on missions in Central and South America. The ship’s home port relocated from Newport to Charleston, and his family moved from Warren, RI to join him in Charleston in the summer of 1976, though he was at sea most of that time.
George was a hard-working and accomplished student during his Naval career and was awarded for the quality of instruction he provided, as well. While others took leave on the weekends, he actively engaged in his studies. His time in education included:
• Instructed at the Surface Warfare Officers School, February 1970 to June 1971, for which he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal
• Attended the highly selective Destroyer School in September 1972
• Instructed at the Naval War College from August 1974 until July 1975
• Graduated with honors from the Naval War College in 1981 with a Masters in Security and Strategic Studies
After his last tour at sea, George successfully applied for a position at the Bureau of Navy Personnel and then for a position with the Office of Chief Naval Operations, both located in Washington, D.C. His administrative policy and planning work, including the Navy’s recruitment program, earned him two Meritorious Medals, and positioned him well for the private sector. Other medals, honors and ribbons he earned during his Naval career include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, S&A Service Deployment Mission with 1 Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Surface Warfare Insignia, and the Command at Sea Badge. George retired as a Commander, USN in June 1985.
George transitioned from working for the Navy to working with the Navy when he joined Resource Consultants Inc. (RCI), a defense contractor, in 1985. During his 25 years working for RCI (later Serco), he successfully managed a world-wide organization that provided military personnel support to the Army and the Navy. Awarded more than once for his service and leadership, his role routinely took him to Germany and Korea to meet with his division directors. He retired as a Senior Vice President in February 2010 but continued to work part-time for Serco until 2014.
Devoted husband, father, and grandfather, “Pop Pop”, George was always present for his family. He drove all over the DC metro area (and beyond) to attend various sports games, concerts, and performances for his children and grandchildren up until March 2020. He refereed the swim meets for all four children from the time they were 7 years old and continued in this role at the request of the Northern Virginia Swimming League after they aged out at 18. He started coaching Jennifer’s soccer team when she was ten and continued until she graduated from high school. A gifted writer, he patiently reviewed Leah’s school papers (with some red ink) until she finally learned to write. He could not wait to hang the Christmas lights outside and cherished everything about the season, because it meant he could spend time with his family.
George was physically active and always busy with a project. When stationed in RI, he routinely took his family out on the Narragansett in the Chris-Craft style wooden boat he had constructed. He built and flew model planes with Chip and later small radio-controlled boats that he raced on lakes with a local boat club. George was skiing in February 2020 and greatly enjoyed annual trips to Killington, VT, and Canaan Valley with his family. He discovered his all-time favorite run in Vail, CO, with Chip and family: “China Bowl”. When he took time to sit in his lazy boy with a beer, it was to watch a Nascar race or a Redskins game with Noelle.
A man of faith, duty, integrity, loyalty, determination, strength, and honor, George left an indelible print on our hearts and we will dearly miss him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on June 11, 2020, at St. Veronica Catholic Church, 3460 Centreville Rd., Chantilly, VA. Interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
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My thoughts and prayers are with Aunt Roma, Leah,Chip, Jennifer, Noelle and their families. Uncle George was a great man and I truly enjoyed the times we had when I was kid visiting in RI or SC and especially enjoyed their visits to the cottage. Thank you Uncle George for your service to our country, faithful servant. David and Jennifer Anastasi
My heart is so sad but so full of love for my brother George. He should be so proud of all his accomplishments especially the beautiful and loving family he and Roma created!! Love you forever George and your family too!! Love Wende
My brother in-law George was like a big brother to me he helped when I was down and was their supporting me at difficult times. I’ll always have many awesome memories of George for the remainder of my life . Like the one when he Jon Hickox sat in our kitchen with a case of Bud playing dueling guitars I thought my parents We’re going to blow a gasket. I’ll miss you George but will never ever forget! Michael
A memorial tree was planted in memory of the decedent.
I serves with George on my first ship, USS Moale. I remember good times in Newport. Michael Cosgrove