George Pallis, big supporter of community, family, church

George Pallis was best-known as a respected Realtor and developer, a dignified leader in his church and Greek community, a basketball coach, an avid golfer, a military man, even Santa Claus to the children in his Columbia City neighborhood.

He became known in the South Seattle community as the "honorary mayor" of Columbia City because of his dynamic presence, community leadership and lifelong connection to the area.

But above all else, his family said, Mr. Pallis was always there to support his wife, three children and six grandchildren.

Mr. Pallis, who took pride in being a first-generation Greek American, died June 23 at Swedish Hospital of complications from a blood disorder. He was 76.

Venetia Pallis, his wife of 45 years, said Mr. Pallis used to always attend high-school football games when their daughter was cheerleading.

"He would look down at her, from the bleachers, and make funny faces at her so she would giggle, smile and blush. He thought that was a great way to encourage her on."

The "mild prankster" side of Mr. Pallis was seen only by family members and his closest friends.

"He loved a good joke but could never remember them," said son Chris Pallis, of Mercer Island. "He'd get so screwed up that we would laugh harder at him trying to tell the joke than the actual punch line."

Born and raised in Seattle, Mr. Pallis attended Franklin High School. He left high school for a year to serve in the Merchant Marines but returned to graduate. Then he was drafted into the Army.

After his military service, he entered the real-estate business and started Pallis Realty in 1954. He also developed several apartment buildings and other commercial projects. He was voted "Realtor of the Year" by the Seattle King County Board of Realtors in 1968, an award he was particularly proud of because it was conferred by his peers, his wife said.

Throughout his life, he was active in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, starting as an altar boy. He was also a parish council member and a coach for the church basketball team. As an original member of the building committee, he worked to build the current church facilities and was responsible for finding the property to build on.

Mr. Pallis volunteered for several philanthropies, most recently serving as an officer and trustee of the John P. Angel Foundation. He was a charter director of the All Saints Camp and Retreat Center. Volunteering for youth causes, fund raisers and ski trips gave him a sense of youthfulness, his wife said.

He was a member of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and a lifelong member of the Rainier Valley Historical Society.

Every year at Christmas, he enjoyed dressing up as Santa Claus for neighborhood children.

A golfer and fisherman, Mr. Pallis hit a hole-in-one at Sandpoint Golf and Country Club in 2000 and loved to remind friends and family about the 52-pound salmon he once caught in Alaska.

"In all the years, I never heard him complain about anything or say a bad word about anybody," Chris Pallis said.

In addition to his wife and son Chris, Mr. Pallis is survived by his daughter, Stellee Papadeas, of Denver; son Demetre Pallis, of Seattle; six grandchildren; a brother, Nick Pallis, of Mercer Island; and a sister, Mary Makos, of Bothell.

A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. today at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave. E. Memorials may be made to Kids 'N Cancer, or Tree of Life, c/o St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.

Cal Blethen: 206-464-8223 or cblethen@seat-tletimes.com