George E Sokolsky Jr.

After years struggling with kidney disease and chronic heart failure, George E. Sokolsky, Jr. passed away peacefully on May 5, 2025, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital’s Palliative Care unit surrounded by his loving family. As many who met him would remark, he was one of a kind. A member of MENSA International, he was known for his brilliant mind, encyclopedic memory, sharp wit, and his “lectures.” He loved his books, classical music, and gourmet food. He spoke multiple languages (French, German, Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek). Yet what was most important to him was his family. He considered himself the luckiest man in the world to have married Helen, his devoted wife of 64 years whom he loved and admired. He adored his daughters Anne Sokolsky (“friend-in-law” Brian Clark) and Margaret Padilla, and cherished being a grandfather to his grandson Brian Padilla. He also was proud to be an uncle to his dear nieces and nephews: Karen Hamel, Mark Young, Timothy Young, Christopher Young, Eliza Schleifstein, and Tony Feuerstein. He valued his role as brother-in-law to John Young, Linda Young, Norma Higinbotham, and Don Feuerstein. He never understood the word “boredom” because there was always more to learn. Until the last few days of his life, he had his brilliant mind and his eloquent words even though his body was slowly deteriorating.

George was born on November 11, 1936, in New York City. He was the son of syndicated columnist George E. Sokolsky and Dorothy Fiske, and brother to Eric Sokolsky and Dorothy Feuerstein. His education included: Collegiate School (Cum Laude) in New York City, Columbia University (B.S. Geology), the University of Michigan (M.S. in Geology), and he began a PhD program in Geology at Columbia University (ABD). He started his career in the United States Air Force with stations in Italy, England, and the United States (Michigan). He was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in 1966. While working on his PhD in Geology, he started a job in the new field of Data Processing with IBM. Most of his career was in Information Systems running the Data Processing Center for St. Joe Minerals and later working in Information Systems for Goldman Sachs, from which he retired in 2000 as Vice President.

Always grateful for being blessed with a good life, he made sure to do his part for others. During his retirement he was involved in a program for the blind as a reader of scientific texts, and he sponsored a young girl in Colombia from 2004 to 2019 through the organization Children International. The young girl was able to go to school and become a Physician’s Assistant. He corresponded with her every year until 2019. Upon his death, his brain was donated to Columbia University Medical Center for their Memory Study.

He leaves behind many who loved him. May his soul rest in peace.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 13 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home at 1076 Madison Avenue, Manhattan. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, May 14 at 10:00 am at St. Francis Cabrini Chapel, 701 Fort Washington Avenue, Manhattan.