George Kadiz

George Kadiz July 14, 1923 – April 4, 2006 George Kadiz Georges Henri Kadiz passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2006 after a short illness. Service celebrating George’s goodness and mourning his passing will be shared at 11:30 AM, Friday, April 7, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Chapel with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery with Father Theodore Tsitsilianos officiating. The Trisagion Service and visitation with the family will be at 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 6 at the Bosque Chapel. George was born on Bastille Day, July 14, 1923 in Paris, France. He had a full and varied life. After graduating from high school in Paris, he worked as a clerk in a department store. After the German invasion of France, at age 17, he was forced to work in a prison camp until the end of WWII. In 1946, he immigrated to the United States. His mother’s brothers and sisters were in Waco and supported his coming. He lived for several years with the James Rokas family. He learned English by sitting in Dr. Lois Sutton’s French classes at Baylor University. In 1948, he was drafted in to the U.S. Army and in 1949, after his service, he returned to Waco and the family café. In 1951, he worked as an interpreter at James Connally AFB for Moroccan, Tunisian, Belgian and French cadets who were here training under the Marshall Plan. George became a citizen in 1952 and brought his widowed mother to this country in 1954. They lived together in Boston for eight years. He worked as a Hairstylist and a Maitre D’ to support them. They then came to Waco. After his mother’s death in 1979, George lived alone near Baylor and continued his long association with the Baylor community. He variously and often at the same time worked at the Methodist Student Center, Baylor Food Service, the Athletic Meal Center and the Moody and Poage libraries. George was an ardent supporter of the arts at Baylor. He was a frequent visitor to student recitals, events at Waco Hall and the Waco Symphony. He often tutored French students and was a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He was a favorite presence on the Baylor campus and after his mother’s death he walked everywhere or rode the bus. In 2002, George was honored by Baylor University for his long service and associated with Baylor since the time when Governor Pat Neff was president. He was confirmed “Alumni by Choice.” George was a faithful member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church here in Waco and a joyous volunteer at the Baptist, Methodist and Catholic student’s centers where he was often helping international students. George echoed the sentiments of many immigrants when he said, “Coming to this country was really the paradise, you know.” George is survived by several first cousins: Tony Rokas and wife Karen, George Kazanas and wife Beverly, Thespi Mitsakos and Anna Kazanas all of Waco; Harry Rokas and wife Nina of San Antonio and Katherine Kazanas of Dallas. Pallbearers will be his second cousins, Jim Rokas, Tom Rokas, Chris Rokas, Donald Cox, George C. Kazanas, Dean Kazanas, Jimmy Kazanas and Robert Cotie. Honorary pallbearers are Rev. Billy Mack Patteson and Rev. Robert Flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey