George Ambandos

Born in New York City on February 14, 1924 to Andrew Ambanoudis, a Greek restaurateur and his wife Helen (nee Chimenides), immigrants from the then-Turkey-claimed island of Chios and Greece's mainland town of Nea Artaki in 1919 and 1920, respectively, he grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania with two brothers: James John and John James, both now deceased. He learned English, as did all the Greek immigrants' children in that close-knit neighborhood, by having older siblings and neighborhood children take turns to sit with their younger siblings and friends in the kindergarten and first grade classroom to translate until they could each manage on their own.

Graduating early at age 16 from the William Allen High School, he went to work at his uncle Sotireos Chimenides's diesel engine repair machine shop Arrow Machine Company in Newark, New Jersey - where he remained for the next 81 years except for a stint in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. Stationed in Kearny, Nebraska, he was honorably discharged at Fort Meade, Maryland on December 29, 1945.

Mr. Ambandos took ownership of Arrow in 1980. The shop, now in its 100th year of operation under the foremanship of Rodolpho Rodriguez, is the last of the city's original businesses of its type still standing.

Mr. Ambandos, a man of steadfast consistency, continued to drive to work every day until 2021, when his car keys were (mercifully) removed from him by his daughters at age 97.

He will be remembered for his unfailing devotion to his wife of 75 years, Sophie Laletas, who died in July of 2024, his unerring business integrity in the face of his beloved city of Newark's many counter-obstacles, and his eternal delight in interacting with his two daughters Anna Wilsman (Michael) of Severna Park, Maryland and Elaine Smith (George) of Staten Island, New York, his 5 beautiful granddaughters and his 11 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank both the Brightstar Home Services of Westfield, New Jersey and the Atlantic Health Hospice Program for their compassionate care.

His at-home attendants for the last two years, Rose Desir and Andrea Gordon, provided him with unfailing loving and conscientious supervision; words are not sufficient to convey the family's gratefulness.

A visitation for George will be held Monday, June 30, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083. Following the visitation will be a funeral service at 12:00 PM.