March 2, 1929 – March 26, 2022
George Celata, age 93, of Reading, formerly of Lynnfield, died peacefully on March 26, 2022, at the Artis Senior Living Center in Reading.
Born on March 2, 1929, and raised in the Boston’s North End, he was the son of the late Michael and Clementina Celata. He earned his High School Diploma at the Boston Trade High School in 1947.
George was a Military Veteran. He joined the United States Navy in 1950 where he served aboard the Buckley Class Destroyer USS Laning APD-55 during the Korean War as a Boilerman First Class sailor in the engine room, where he received high commendations for his conduct and prompt reactions in critical times of endangerment from his Commanding Officer. In 1954, he was honorably discharged and married Lora (Simione) Celata of Brooklyn NY in 1955.
He was the loving father of Steve Celata and his wife Karen of North Carolina, Karen Muller and her husband Steve of Methuen, Cindy Celata and her fiancé Stephen Brown of Ayer, and George J. Celata and his wife Ann of Lynnfield. He was the brother of 8 siblings; Mary Celata, John Celata, Lena Iorio, and the late Tony, Ernie, and Emil Celata and Angie Griffoni. He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren: Gina Muller and Evan, Ethan Celata, and Michael Celata.
George and Lora moved to Wakefield MA in 1955 where he worked in private industry as a pattern maker, until he moved to Lynnfield MA in 1960. He pursued a new career in Education. He achieved his Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Fitchburg State College in 1972, and achieved a Master of Education degree in 1974, and a second Master’s degree in the field of Educational Administration at Boston State College and was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in 1977.
George’s career as a teacher included Woodshop, Technical Drafting, Architecture, and was the first teacher to introduce Computer Aided Design (CAD) to his High School students in the 70’s before it became the industry standard in the mid to late 1980s. He retired at age 62 after 22 years from the City of Peabody High School as the Industrial Arts School Administrator.
George was extremely talented. He had a passion for architecture, artwork, machining, and woodworking which was admired by many. He enjoyed boating, fishing, golfing, bike riding, and gardening. He was a family man at heart and would always help family and friends when needed. George and Lora were members of the Lynnfield Couples Club for many years.
His Funeral Service will be held in the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday, April 4 at 11am. Visitation for relatives and friends prior to the service from 9am-11am. Interment, Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/ (confirmation emails can be forwarded to ccelata@yahoo.com)
