Ralis George Pierides

Known as Ralis by his Cypriot relatives and George by his American and Greek relatives, he was born on February 9, 1925 in New York City to the late George Charalambos Pierides, a Greek Cypriot, and Theano Capidaglis Pierides, an Athenian Greek. Raised in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, he moved with his family to Cyprus in 1933, spending much of his spare time at his father’s lumber yard and exploring his ancient surroundings. Having skipped junior high school, he graduated high school from the American Academy in Larnaca in 1941. A few years later, after World War II had directly affected life in Cyprus, he returned to the US, enlisting in the US Army in 1945, achieving the rank of corporal.

Following his honorable discharge in 1946, he was employed by the New York State Department of Public Works, working on the Major Deegan Expressway (Interstate 87) in the Bronx. After attending Samson College and the University of Michigan, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1951 and worked briefly in Oak Ridge before employment with the Bridge Design Section of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Through St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Knoxville, Tennessee he met Helen Changas, and they were married in April 1953. Less than three years later, they moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he was employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. During his years there, his designs were instrumental in the construction of the Hartwell Dam on the Savannah River, the lock and dam at the Mississippi Test Facility (Marshall Space Flight Program) where space program rocket testing was conducted, and various bridges in the Southeast US. After his transfer to the Washington, DC area in 1966, he later was employed by the US Department of Transportation and ended his career in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Of the transportation secretaries under whom he served, his favorite was Elizabeth Dole.

Ralis/George was a devoted family man who touched the lives of many different people in so many different ways, including as a Sunday school teacher (three of his students became priests), life and music teacher to his and many other children, and English teacher to immigrant children. He was a craftsman, horticulturist, and championship soccer coach. He spoke several foreign languages and played numerous instruments, including guitar, mandolin, violin and piano. And he was a brilliant man – a virtual walking encyclopedia. He certainly will be missed by many.

Ralis/George was preceded in death by his father, George Charalambos Pierides; mother, Theano Capidaglis Pierides; and sister, Alexandria Sophia Pierides Papadopoulos.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Helen Changas Pierides; daughter, Claire Pierides Erickson (married to Michael Lee Erickson); and son, George Cyprian Pierides (Kerry Sullivan Pierides); in addition to four grandchildren, namely Jessica Ingham (George), Nicholas Erickson (Katelyn), Laura Richard (Phillip), and Jenna Pierides; three great grandchildren (plus one on the way); a few cousins and in-laws; numerous nieces, nephews and friends; and six granddogs.

Private services will be held at Quantico National Cemetery, and memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion (www.legion.org).