Obituary of George Peter Aliferis

Γεώργιος Παναγιώτης Αλιφέρης Passed away quietly on Thursday October 22nd, 2020, at The Ottawa Hospital General Campus. Beloved Husband of 64 years to the late Eleftheria Frances Aliferis. Devoted and loving father to his sons Peter Aliferis and Aik Aliferis. Proud grandfather he will be missed by Eleftheria "Liberty" Georgia and George “Xristopher” Aliferis, their mother Afrodity, and George Aliferis, his mother Nadia and his caregiver Mayrose. Born in Xerokabi (Laconia) on April 1st, 1926 to Panagiotis and Eleni Aliferis, brother to the late Maria (Aleko) Solomos, Harilios ( Stella ), Menelois ( Lula ), Genny (Theodoros) Apostolakos. Proud Uncle to Yanni and Yanna, Panagiotis and Costandina, Stavroula and Petros, Eleni and Spiro, Stratis and Marika, Eleni and Yanni in Greece, Switzerland, and the UK. In-laws to the late Kostas Kanellakos (Maria) of Ottawa, the late Eleni and Kosta Katsoulis of Athens, Greece and Katherine Hill (Byrne) of Newmarket, Ontario. He will also be missed by his other nieces and nephews; John Kanellakos, Vandi, Tanya, Christina and Darryl Hill, all of Canada; Maria and Elias, Kyriakos and Konstandinos of Athens Greece. George was a dynamic young man leaving the rural life near Sparti in southern Greece. After enduring the Nazi Occupation in 1940 and the civil war when Greece was left in shambles, he joined the Royal Hellenic Air Force where he grew through the ranks to become Air Commodore (Ταξίαρχος), NATO Rank OF-6. Here he oversaw a large regiment of men working with the Aviation establishment of the Greek and Allied forces. Once the war ended and the calm had started to settle in, George’s destiny willed him to follow the American ( Canadian) Dream following his sweetheart Eleftheria to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where he embarked on his entrepreneurial dream. In 1958 he started his first business at Hogs Back area of Ottawa where today stands a 1000-unit Apartment project near the Greek Orthodox Church. The business quickly grew and by 1961 George needed to expand operations so he purchased land at Bank and Alta Vista Drive where he built what would become his flagship Spartan Body Shop. There the business continued to flourish and became the largest collision repair centre in Ottawa, expanding with locations in the West end, East end and even into Hull, Quebec. With operations going well George added a new dimension to this enterprise. In the late 60’s George acquired the rights to Zeibart Rustproofing company. Here, he grew this line very quickly with multiple locations throughout Ontario and Quebec. A short time later he decided to enter the Dealership business opening Bank Street Datsun, a Nissan company from Japan located just across from his flagship collision centre Spartan, where a Newly constructed Toyota Facility currently stands. While this was happening, he also opened a chain of Pizza stores and a new Chrysler dealer operation also in Ottawa’s south end. At this point you think that it was enough… Well you’re mistaken, he then decided to open the first Spartan Autocare facility in Europe, this expansion would take him to Brussel’s Belgium in the mid 70’s where he built a state-of-the-art repair centre, with his eye on growing throughout Europe and possibly back to Greece. A few years passed, and George’s sons grew and started to assist in the business. Peter who had just completed his MBA from Florida Atlantic University was made President and he assisted George in operating the group of businesses with some help from his younger brother Aik who operated a downtown location on Gladstone avenue. George’s reputation in the industry was second to none winning awards year after year even being touted as the BODYSHOP BARON by Canadian Autobody Magazine in the late 70’s and 80’s. George was also a very philanthropic man helping on many levels. He assisted the Hellenic Community of Ottawa continually through his career and spearheaded the financial committee to relocate the Greek Orthodox Church from downtown on Albert Street to where it stands today on Prince of Wales Drive, where his funeral will be hosted. He personally contributed to the cost of affixing the cross at the top of the church. He also was an advocate of strong education and supported Asbury College where his sons and granddaughter graduated, and his two other grandchildren attend. He also assisted many local charities directly through many organizations such as the Rotary Club of Ottawa; he donated for many years to the Civic Hospital; helping the less fortunate wherever he could. George was committed to giving back to the country that gave him, like so many immigrants who came to Canada, the opportunity for his dreams to come true. George spent the latter part of his life residing with his wife of 64 years in Ottawa’s west end in the same home they bought in 1959, doing what he loved. He advised, studied, monitored world affairs, politics and cared for his family until his passing. You could always rely on George to provide detailed history lessons, opinions on political activities and would quote Greek philosophy daily. He continued to advise all that he encountered explaining the impacts the Greeks have made on the world. Through all this, George will be remembered for his kind heart, James Bond smile, incredible whit, his astute knowledge of so many different topics and his generous and genuine humbleness. Comments through the years that would resonate of who George was would be like this; Who will donate to your cause? George will, go see George! Hey who can we get our cousin a job with when he immigrates from Greece or Italy or wherever …. Go see George he always helps; he never says no to someone who needs help! George will not only be remembered for living and making the American (Canadian) Dream Happen, but he will be remembered for the kindness, caring and a man who was always there for you! A special thank you to all the Doctors who helped George along the way Dr. Haig Ashikian, family physician, Dr. Delvina Hasimja of the Ottawa Hospital and so many other wonderful health professionals and a message of sincere gratitude to Fr. Alex Michalopoulos. Fr. Alex is a generous, kind, loving, and caring pastor and was there for George and the family. The family is so thankful that he was able to Bless George for his heavenly journey. Family will receive Friends on Friday, October 30th at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 1315 Prince of Wales Drive from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Due to Covid Restrictions, the funeral services will be held at 2 pm (Invitation Only.) The funeral will be live streamed see link below. The family requests donations in Memory of George Peter Aliferis be presented to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church see link below or call the Church Office at 613-225-8016 ext. 222. (Please make cheques payable to The Hellenic Community of Ottawa.) Donation Link: https://www.helleniccommunity.com/onetime donations/ Live Stream Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLus33LdGBddKxFwVX7FaSfHd9oFVw0DMn Online Tribute Link: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/5MQ52TTG7L23MW82 Please view the slideshow for George by going to the Media tab on the top right of the page and then to the Video tab.