July 10, 2010
Angelo G. Georgian, 94
HAVERHILL — Mr. Angelo G. Georgian, 94, of Bradford, passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.
When Angelo Georgian landed a job as a "treer" in the Fifth Avenue Shoe Co. in Haverhill. He was paid 25 cents an hour and had no benefits or insurance. Before he was done, he became an influential leader to one of the most powerful labor unions in the United States. He demonstrated unselfish dedication in the struggle of working people to achieve strength through unity and dignity in their efforts for a better life.
The fourth of six children born to Anastasia and George Georgian immigrated from Greece in 1910. He followed his father, four brothers, Danny, Peter, Jimmy, John and sister, Nora into the shoe industry in 1941 to escape The Depression. Coming from a family with close democratic and political ties, he was drawn to the labor movement that was evolving in the industrial towns of New England. During the several decades he had been in the labor movement wages, working conditions and benefits improved significantly. Mr. Georgian became active in the United Shoe Workers Union and became embroiled in organizing drives and commenced his career as a labor official when elected union president in 1942.
Georgian's union career was interrupted when he joined the Air Corp during World War II and he was stationed in China as a radio operator for over two years. He was quite proud of the fact that on a return trip from China his plane returned several "Doolittle flyers" home. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sgt. in 1945 and returned to Haverhill.
Upon his return home he found the union had been strengthened with a growing membership and his talents and abilities surfaced immediately and he resumed his duties. In 1949, he was elected Regional Director to the General Executive Board of USWA International Union, the top governing body union's Washington based executive board. In 1957 at the age of 42, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer (one of two top offices) of the United Shoe Workers of America AFL-CIO. He was custodian of all union finances, records, property and responsible for the investment of union funds for over 60,000 employees. He held that position in Washington until he was 61. While in Washington he was a member of the U.S. Labor Policy Advisory Committee and was appointed by the Labor Secretary to establish a minimum wage structure in the shoe and leather industry in Puerto Rico. When the shoe union merged with Amalgamated Clothing & Textile he was chosen vice president and director of the shoe division in the U.S. and Canada.
As a person possessed with sound judgment, compassion, honesty and fairness he was well respected in the labor movement and community and he energetically dedicated and devoted his life to promoting the general welfare of not only his members but was very active in lobbying for legislation designed for a better America for all of its citizens.
During the years, while he served in Washington, Georgian was introduced to the political social circuit and legislative deals that permeated the capitol and became familiar with the role of an effective lobbyist. Along his rise through the union management, Mr. Georgian met and dined with presidents, congressmen and statesmen including Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson and Kennedy, whom he had known from his early years in Massachusetts politics. He also had close relationships with Hubert Humphrey, Tip O'Neil and Ted Kennedy. He was appointed by President Eisenhower as an executive reservist to perform emergency duties for the Dept. of Defense.
Mr. Georgian married Yvonne Lambert in Washington. In 1972 his office moved from Washington to Boston and he and his wife Yvonne returned to reside in Haverhill. In 1978, he led the USWA merger committee in negotiations with Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union which resulted in a merger of a union comprised of approximately half a million members. He had lived in Haverhill since his retirement in 1984.
He was a member of the Church of the Holy Apostles where he received the Man of the Year Award in 1981, Acropolis Chapter 39 of AHEPA, and Haverhill Elks. Recognition of his distinguished and devoted achievements came in the form of many citations that he earned over the 40 years of his labor career.
He is predeceased by his wife; brothers, Peter and his wife Ida, James, John and his wife Lee, and Daniel; brother-in-law, Charles Saxonis and niece Grace Agrios and her husband, James, and leaves a sister, Nora Saxonis of Bradford; niece, Antoinette Fournier and husband Fran of Bradford; niece, Anastasia Athanasatos of Haverhill; niece, Nora Samargedlis and husband Frank of Hyannis; niece, Ann Georgian of Haverhill; niece, Kay Georgian and her husband Gerard of Haverhill; nephew, George Georgian and his wife Joanne of Atkinson, N.H. and nephew, Paul Georgian and his wife Carolyn of Waltham.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral on Monday, July 12 at 9 a.m. from the H.L. Farmer & Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 South Main St., followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. at the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial will follow in the Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill. Calling hours at the Bradford Funeral Home will be on Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, 154-156 Winter St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Condolences to his family may be made at www.farmerfuneralhomes.com.
July 10, 2010
Angelo G. Georgian, 94
HAVERHILL — Mr. Angelo G. Georgian, 94, of Bradford, passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.
When Angelo Georgian landed a job as a "treer" in the Fifth Avenue Shoe Co. in Haverhill. He was paid 25 cents an hour and had no benefits or insurance. Before he was done, he became an influential leader to one of the most powerful labor unions in the United States. He demonstrated unselfish dedication in the struggle of working people to achieve strength through unity and dignity in their efforts for a better life.
The fourth of six children born to Anastasia and George Georgian immigrated from Greece in 1910. He followed his father, four brothers, Danny, Peter, Jimmy, John and sister, Nora into the shoe industry in 1941 to escape The Depression. Coming from a family with close democratic and political ties, he was drawn to the labor movement that was evolving in the industrial towns of New England. During the several decades he had been in the labor movement wages, working conditions and benefits improved significantly. Mr. Georgian became active in the United Shoe Workers Union and became embroiled in organizing drives and commenced his career as a labor official when elected union president in 1942.
Georgian's union career was interrupted when he joined the Air Corp during World War II and he was stationed in China as a radio operator for over two years. He was quite proud of the fact that on a return trip from China his plane returned several "Doolittle flyers" home. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sgt. in 1945 and returned to Haverhill.
Upon his return home he found the union had been strengthened with a growing membership and his talents and abilities surfaced immediately and he resumed his duties. In 1949, he was elected Regional Director to the General Executive Board of USWA International Union, the top governing body union's Washington based executive board. In 1957 at the age of 42, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer (one of two top offices) of the United Shoe Workers of America AFL-CIO. He was custodian of all union finances, records, property and responsible for the investment of union funds for over 60,000 employees. He held that position in Washington until he was 61. While in Washington he was a member of the U.S. Labor Policy Advisory Committee and was appointed by the Labor Secretary to establish a minimum wage structure in the shoe and leather industry in Puerto Rico. When the shoe union merged with Amalgamated Clothing & Textile he was chosen vice president and director of the shoe division in the U.S. and Canada.
As a person possessed with sound judgment, compassion, honesty and fairness he was well respected in the labor movement and community and he energetically dedicated and devoted his life to promoting the general welfare of not only his members but was very active in lobbying for legislation designed for a better America for all of its citizens.
During the years, while he served in Washington, Georgian was introduced to the political social circuit and legislative deals that permeated the capitol and became familiar with the role of an effective lobbyist. Along his rise through the union management, Mr. Georgian met and dined with presidents, congressmen and statesmen including Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson and Kennedy, whom he had known from his early years in Massachusetts politics. He also had close relationships with Hubert Humphrey, Tip O'Neil and Ted Kennedy. He was appointed by President Eisenhower as an executive reservist to perform emergency duties for the Dept. of Defense.
Mr. Georgian married Yvonne Lambert in Washington. In 1972 his office moved from Washington to Boston and he and his wife Yvonne returned to reside in Haverhill. In 1978, he led the USWA merger committee in negotiations with Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union which resulted in a merger of a union comprised of approximately half a million members. He had lived in Haverhill since his retirement in 1984.
He was a member of the Church of the Holy Apostles where he received the Man of the Year Award in 1981, Acropolis Chapter 39 of AHEPA, and Haverhill Elks. Recognition of his distinguished and devoted achievements came in the form of many citations that he earned over the 40 years of his labor career.
He is predeceased by his wife; brothers, Peter and his wife Ida, James, John and his wife Lee, and Daniel; brother-in-law, Charles Saxonis and niece Grace Agrios and her husband, James, and leaves a sister, Nora Saxonis of Bradford; niece, Antoinette Fournier and husband Fran of Bradford; niece, Anastasia Athanasatos of Haverhill; niece, Nora Samargedlis and husband Frank of Hyannis; niece, Ann Georgian of Haverhill; niece, Kay Georgian and her husband Gerard of Haverhill; nephew, George Georgian and his wife Joanne of Atkinson, N.H. and nephew, Paul Georgian and his wife Carolyn of Waltham.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral on Monday, July 12 at 9 a.m. from the H.L. Farmer & Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 South Main St., followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. at the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial will follow in the Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill. Calling hours at the Bradford Funeral Home will be on Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, 154-156 Winter St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Condolences to his family may be made at www.farmerfuneralhomes.com.
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