George Kochummen Mannickarottu

George Kochummen Mannnickarottu defined his life by his dedication and care for both his family and his wider community. He was an accomplished and well-loved author, community leader, husband, and father.

George was born on May 28, 1943, in Pattazhi, Quilon District, Kerala, India, into the Mannickarottu family. His parents were Mariamma and Kochummen Mathai Mannickarottu. He was the youngest child, with six brothers and sisters.

He joined the Indian Army as a young man. It’s also where he met his wife, Aliyamma Varghese.

On May 28, 1972, they married, and a year later, they had their first child, Gerald, called Jerry, while living in New Delhi. Their son, Sachin, was born in Kerala, and then the family decided to immigrate to the U.S. George arrived first to establish a home for the family. He bought a house in Monticello, NY, and his wife and children followed a year later. Then their third son, Sevile, was born.

George earned his nursing license before emigrating to the U.S. A dedicated and caring nurse, he wrote the first patient handbook for the VA CCU (Cardiac Care Unit) called Guard Your Heart.

He and his family moved to the Houston suburbs in 1980.

George and Aliyamma’s life centered on their faith. George co-founded what is now the India Catholics of Houston, for which he served as president three times. He was deeply involved in building the Syro-Malankara religious community in Houston and supported the community as it grew into St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

George’s love for community also manifested in his support for his fellow Malayalis, in the U.S. and Kerala. This enthusiasm for bringing people together and cultivating a shared heritage was evident in George’s active participation in various Kerala and Malayalam organizations. He took on leadership roles, including President of the Malayalee Association of Greater Houston, President of the Malayalam Society of America, Chairman of the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America, and Regional Vice President of the Kerala Literary Association of North America. George has received great recognition for his success in community organization.

Writing was an essential part of George’s life, deeply intertwined with his love for the Malayalam language and the Malayali community. This is evident in his published works, which often delved into explorations of Kerala heritage. He wrote several fiction books, including three novels and several short stories, and regularly wrote pieces for various news organizations. His first novel, Jeevathinde Kanneer (Tears of Life), was the first Malayalam novel published in the United States. His 2007 publication of American Aadhunika Malayala Sahithya Charitham (The History of Malayalam Literature in America) is considered one of his most significant achievements and was shortlisted for the prestigious Indian national Sahitya Akedemi Award in 2008. It remains the only comprehensive history of Malayalam literature published outside Kerala. This text was recently translated into English.

George was the publisher and chief editor of the Malayalam newspaper, Kerala Nadam, for four years. He was also an early chief editor of Mattoli, the cultural magazine of the Kerala Cultural Association for several years, as well as a regular contributor. During George’s life, he was profiled by several news organizations in recognition of his accomplishments.

George loved music and poetry too. He wrote songs, even though he would be the first to admit that he was a terrible singer. And he enjoyed traveling widely. He always carried himself with dignity but was known to frequently inject his subtle wit into conversations. And he loved Kerala’s food more than any other in the world.

George and Aliyamma were married for 50 years. Sacrificing his own health, he became her devoted caregiver through her final years, until she passed away in 2022. For the last four years, he battled complications due to Parkinson’s but remained optimistic. He was grateful for his family, friends, and community for their visits, their help with transportation, and other support.

George left the world better, thanks to his deep commitment to hard work and community service—values he passed on to his children.

George is survived by his three beloved sons and their families: his eldest, Jerry, and his wife Sonia, parents of Diego and Pierce; his son Sachin and his wife Kirsten, parents of Logan; and his youngest, Sevile, and his wife Manasee, parents of Ezri.

The viewing will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 5 to 9 pm at St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (3135 5th Street, Stafford, TX 77477). The funeral service will be held at the same church at 9 am on Saturday, June 13, 2026, followed by the burial at the church building’s cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in support of the orphanage ministry through Malankara Catholic Charities Houston (MCCH) through this website link: https://shorturl.at/gmy2r