Obituary of George E. Menassa

George Elie Menassa, age 76, of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on September 18, 2018.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, VA, 20170. Pastor Steven Smith-Cobbs will officiate. Interment will be Monday October 8 at 11 a.m. at Maryland National Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Adams-Green Funeral Home, Herndon, VA.

George was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 2, 1942, and grew up in Damascus, Syria, with his mother, father and younger brother, John. In 1955, the family emigrated to the United States. George served in the U.S. Navy North Atlantic Fleet, Service Squadron Four, from 1965 to 1967, and in the U.S. Naval Reserves for a decade thereafter. In 1966, George met and married Janet Ann Stello, his wife of nearly 52 years. George was a proud alumnus of the University of Maryland where he earned a degree in economics. He was a technical consulting engineer for AT&T, from which he retired in 1997 after 28 years. At that time, George and Janet moved to a picturesque home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where they lived for 12 years. In 2010, they relocated to Ashby Ponds, a comfortable retirement community in Ashburn, VA, where George spent the very productive and happy last eight years of his life.

George was continually active in community, civic, and church events, typically taking on positions of leadership. He was an enthusiastic photographer and videographer, memorializing in recorded images and sound the important events and musical endeavors of his wife, children, grandchildren, and even the many activities and presentations at Ashby Ponds. George was proud of his Middle-Eastern heritage, and spoke three languages: Arabic, French, and English. He was a member of the Photography Club, French Club, and the Maryland University Alumni Club at Ashby Ponds. He is remembered by all who knew him as an enthusiastic volunteer and a giving friend. George was an organ donor, evidence that his giving spirit survives his physical death.

George is survived by his wife, Janet, his children, Bret Menassa (Beverly) and Jennifer Kirwan (Bill), his grandchildren, Garrett Taylor Menassa and Olivia Ann Kirwan, his honorary grandchildren, Kyle and Andrew Kirwan, his brother, John R. Menassa (Jill), his brother-in-law Harry E. Stello, Jr., and his nephews, Harry E. Stello III and John C. Menassa, and his nieces, Lori Perez and Erin Kirley, as well as countless other family and friends.

George is preceded in death by his father Najib Constantine Menassa, and his mother, Irene D. Menassa Ericsson.

Memorial donations may be given to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Sidney Kimmel Cancer center at Johns Hopkins Hospital.