Arion A. "Ace" Mavrogeorge

Arion “Ace” Mavrogeorge, 93, passed away peacefully at the Elliot Hospital on January 11, 2015. He was born in Manchester, NH on November 29, 1921 the son of Alexander and Maria Mavrogeorge. His family moved to Massachusetts when he was a child and he grew up in Boston and Watertown.

Arion was given the nickname “Ace” as a youth because of his love of World War I fighter planes. He even built a soapbox derby size wooden model of one. Little did he know that a decade later he would be involved in his own world war.

In high school, Ace presented himself as a versatile student. Not only was he an excellent runner and a talented boxer but he also played percussion instruments in the school band.

At age 19, Ace joined the US Navy as the country entered World War II serving as a First Class gunman aboard the battleship USS Massachusetts. His ship fired the first and the final sixteen inch shells of the war. He was involved in 35 battles, beginning with the sinking of two enemy ships at Casablanca and later being involved in the pre-invasion attack at Iwo Jima. At the end of the war, he found himself in the position of shooting down multiple kamikaze planes intent on destroying his ship. Ace received 13 stars for bravery, 7 medals and 1 presidential unit citation.

Upon his return home, he met and married Alice Vaios in Manchester. Together they became the owners and operators of A & A Cleaners while raising their three children. Alice passed away in December 1996 after 50 years of marriage.

During the sixties and seventies, Ace was instrumental in organizing Manchester’s Memorial and Veterans Day parades often inviting marching bands and military troops from Massachusetts. Because of this, most of these parades exceeded two hours in length.

Mr. Mavrogeorge also served as head on the committee to restore and renovate his beloved battleship “Big Mamie”. Working alongside such dignitaries as Senator Ted Kennedy, his son Edward and Governor William Weld, Ace was instrumental in the salvation and preservation of the ship. It now stands as part of the memorial museum at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA. For his efforts, Mr. Mavrogeorge was awarded the title of “Commodore”.

Unknown to the many people Ace worked on committees with through the years was the fact that he was having an inner battle with Parkinson’s disease, a disease that he carried with him for nearly 30 years. During this period, he displayed incredible strength and courage and always a positive attitude.

The two loves of his life were his family and his battleship. Ace was a kind and gentle man who made scores of friends, including one who dubbed him with his second nickname “Legend”, a name that he carried for more than forty years. He will be remembered as a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his two sons Alex Mavrogeorge and his wife Diane of Manchester and Gary Mavrogeorge of Auburn, his daughter Marcia Harrington and her husband Jim of Hooksett, his four grandchildren Scott Harrington and his wife Nancy, Stacy Harrington and her fiancé Matt Haydu, Matthew Mavrogeorge and his wife Melissa and Kenneth Mavrogeroge and his wife Jen and his four great-grandchildren Alexandra, Isabella, Juliana and Angelina.

His family would like to thank Dr. Ken Thomas, Dr. Mark Biletch and the doctors and staff at the Elliot Hospital and also the doctors and staff at the Hanover Hill Healthcare Center for the loving care he received but most of all we thank God for giving us the kindest, funniest and bravest man we have ever known. He will be greatly missed and will continue to inspire us every day.

There were no calling hours. Funeral services were private. For those who wish, memorial donations in Ace’s name may be made to Battleship Cove 5 Water St. Fall River, MA. 02721.