Obituaries

George P. Knasas of Quincy passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 27, 2016 at age 64. A lifelong Quincy resident, he was a graduate of B.C. High and Stonehill College. A foreign language teacher in the Braintree Public School system from 1974 – 2009, George taught at the Central High School, East and South Middle Schools and Braintree High. He was the DJ at the middle school dances, which his students loved. Primarily a French and Spanish teacher, he also had the opportunity to teach Latin, Italian, German and Chinese. At one time George had a satellite dish hooked up to his classroom so his students could watch television shows broadcast from the countries of the languages they were learning. After retiring in 2009, he returned to teach Spanish part time in the Alternative Education Department at Braintree High, doing so until the time of his death. Students and staff will best remember George for his work ethic, love of language and his sense of humor. He was well known for his puns and jokes in and out of class. George loved music of all kinds and was active with Quincy Access TV and its programming for Chinese audiences.

The loving son of Anne M. (Valatka) Knasas of Quincy and late Alfred B. Knasas, Sr., George was the beloved brother of John F.X. Knasas and his wife Joanne of Houston, TX, Alfred B. Knasas, Jr. and his wife Rima of Dorchester, Anthony M. Knasas and his wife Marjorie of Hingham and Mary A. Knasas and her husband Bill Varnell of Dorchester. He was predeceased by his nephew Matthew Knasas and is also survived by  his niece, many nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his beloved friend Teresa Thien of Quincy and her children, Johnny and his wife Thai Chia and Jackson and his wife Luqi Chia and their children.

Family and friends are invited to visiting hours which will be held on Thursday, December 1 from 4:00 to 8:00PM at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home 74 Elm St. Quincy Center. On Friday there will be a gathering at the funeral home at 9:00AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00AM at St. John the Baptist Church 44 School St. Quincy. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory may be made to a fund for student travel abroad. Checks should be made to Braintree Public Schools with “World Language Dept.” on the memo line, c/o Karen Keefe, 128 Town St. Braintree, MA 02184.