George Konstantinos Polyzos

In loving memory of George Kostantinos (Sauce) Polyzos

Born in the hills of Berkeley, George was the first of three children to Olymbia and Kostantinos Polyzos from Kalamata and Spercheiada, Greece. He was joined shortly after by his brother Paul and sister Katerina, both of whom he adored and got into tremendous adventures with over the years. If he wasn’t selling the family piano to buy his first car under his parents’ nose, he was horsing around with his steady crew of friends he kept over his lifetime and working at the restaurant when his father needed him. George was lucky enough to be the first grandchild in a large family, and he was deeply loved by his indulgent Thea’s and Theo’s growing up, never finding himself in need of a sweet or a hug. Being a child of a restaurant owner was no easy task, and George had an incredible work ethic from a young age. Nicknamed Sauce, he scraped away from death on more than one occasion in his youth, living without fear at every turn. Along with his band of friends and his baby brother Paul, George was a true child of the seventies and there are as many stories to tell as there are minutes in the day, like that one time he turned down Paula Abdul on a night out.

With this same fearless spirit, he met and fell in love with Kim Vallad, and they married and welcomed their first son Jason Paul in 1979. Just four years later, their family was complete when Sofia Olivia arrived. George was a fiercely loving father, and worked tireless hours as a carpenter and home builder to provide for his small family. His workmanship was beautiful and he took great pride in the quality of his craft and attention to detail. His life’s joy came from being a father to “Jay-bird” and “Sofitsa”, and he made sure they were raised with the overabundant love and community of the greater Polyzos family. Actively involved in everything the Greek church had to offer, George volunteered at and sent his children every year to Camp Ravencliff, or better known as, Polyzos Family Camp. For over 20 years, he worked for a month straight before the Oakland food festival, setting up the platforms they needed and always complaining that they could’ve paid him in a few more food tokens to make it worth his while, all with his signature grin on his face.

George was an avid poker player, always hosting games and was known for his impenetrable poker face. He loved his Raiders, Warriors and the A’s and never missed watching a game if he could help it. George was forever an athlete, a trait that he left to both his children and grandchildren. If there was a game to play, he was playing it, and was part of the Oakland men’s basketball team for thirty years well into his fifties.

He became a grandfather for the first time in 2007 when his son Jason and partner Maria welcomed their son, George Felix, named in his honor. To say he was thrilled and overjoyed at meeting his namesake is an understatement. His little gang of grandchildren expanded with Estelle Aida from Jason and Maria, and Colette Olivia and Simone Nicole from Sofia and her husband Cory. He spent every possible moment he could goofing off with them over the following years and instilling in them his trademark silliness.

His nieces and nephews also held a large piece of George’s heart as well, Syeda, Yianni, Olivia, Eleni and Kosta were able to spend countless years with Theo George brightening their lives and playing games with them well into their adulthoods.

George passed away peacefully in his sleep on the evening of Palm Sunday, April 28th, surrounded by his family after a long battle with the universe’s most unforgiving disease.

More than anything, George was constantly laughing and joking around, never took life too seriously, and made everyone around him feel like they were in on the joke too. He never complained, unless it was about the price of cigarettes going up, and he left every corner of his world a little better. He was a steadfast friend and truly put everyone he ever met before himself. He was trustworthy, kind and deeply, deeply loving. If you knew George, you were one of the lucky ones.

Services:

Trisagion, Monday, 5/6/24 at 7:00 PM, Ascension Cathedral

Funeral, Tuesday, 5/7/24 at 11 AM, Ascension Cathedral, followed by burial at Oakmont Cemetery and then back to Ascension Cathedral for Makaria.

In lieu of flowers you can make donations in honor of George to Ascension Camp Ravencliff