VENTURA : George Poulos Dies; Civic Leader Was 88

George Michael Poulos, a civic leader and founder of the Rest & Aspiration Society of Ventura, has died at age 88. Poulos, who was being treated for pneumonia at an area hospital, died Saturday night after suffering a heart attack.

A native of Greece, he had lived in Ventura since 1914. He was best known for starting the Rest & Aspiration Society in downtown Ventura during WWII so Navy and Army officers and local business people could meet to share ideas, problems and friendships.

“The club was his pet project,” said Marlene Engle, Poulos’ daughter. “There are so many military bases here, yet service people were not always welcome in the community. So my father started the club to draw the officers and business people together.”

Poulos also was a member of a number of civic organizations including the Elks Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Al Malaikah Shrine Club.

He also served as organizer and past president of the Ventura Chapter of the American Hellenic Progressive Education Assn. At one point, he was also district director of a territory covering four states. Poulos “thought it’s a wonderful thing that in America an education is available to everyone if they really want it,” Engle said.

Paulos is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen; son Milton of Ventura; and daughters Nancy Moller of Palm Springs, Engle, and Kathy Yoemans of Ventura; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.