Mr. George S. Coumantaros †

Mr. George S. Coumantaros was born in London in 1922. He was educated in Athens, Greece and graduated from the Makris School. After leaving Greece in 1941, he arrived in Argentina via South Africa in 1942.

Mr. Coumantaros came to the USA in 1946. In 1949 he founded Southern Star Shipping Co., Inc. of which he was Chairman. He became a citizen of the United States in 1952.

Mr. Coumantaros was also Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC which was established in 1962. The mill is the largest single-site flour mill complex in the world, capable of milling 6,000 tons of wheat per day and in addition has expanded in importing bulk cement, fertilizers and the manufacture of polypropylene bags.

Mr. Coumantaros retired as Vice Chairman of The West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association. He served on the Board of the American Bureau of Shipping and on various banks and organizations along with many Hellenic shipping groups. Mr. Coumantaros was a member of several yacht clubs and many social organizations.

Regarding Mr. Coumantaros’ sailing career, he built to his specifications 4 highly successful racing boats which he campaigned around the world gaining substantial victories and setting course elapsed time records. He won the World Maxi Championship 3 times, the coveted Bermuda Race trophy, the Fastnet Race and participated in 25 Bermuda Races and won numerous local sailing events and regattas.

His outside interests were tennis, yachting, ocean racing and the arts and he had a substantial collection of impressionists and post impressionists. He was married for over 50 years with 4 children and 11 grandchildren.

(1922 - 2016)