Former Westfield Mayor George A. Varelas rides in the Westfield 350 parade in May 2019. (HARRY ROCK PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Former Mayor George A. Varelas has died.
Varelas, 88, died at Baystate Medical Center April 26 from complications of COVID-19 stated his family.
Varelas immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1956 and settled in Westfield. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westfield State University. He was a member of the Westfield Police Department for 32 years, attaining the rank of lieutenant before being elected Westfield’s mayor in 1985. Varelas served as mayor until 1993.
Varelas was succeeded by former Mayor Richard K. Sullivan Jr. who noted Varelas’ impact on the city schools. Sullivan said under Varelas, additions were built to the Southampton Road Elementary and Highland Elementary schools.
“He also put in place the Paper Mill and Munger Hill elementary school construction within the confines of the budget,” Sullivan said, noting working within a city budget is an accomplishment. “It’s not an easy thing to do.”
Current Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. recalled meeting Varelas while he was a city police officer.
“I was a young legislative aid to then-representative Mike Knapik when I first met him,” Humason said. “He was an institution.”
Manny Rovithis, center, owner of Manny’s TV & Appliances, cuts a ceremonial ribbon in front of his East Main Street in 2014. Joining Rovithis are, left-right, Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, State Rep. John C. Velis, then-Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik,then- state Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr., and George Varelas, former Westfield mayor and friend of Rovithis. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Humason said some people thought Varelas was “gruff,” but that was not the man Humason knew.
“I knew him to be very warm, and funny,” Humason said, noting he was a good cook and dedicated to his family and the Greek Orthodox Church.
Humason recalled that Varelas would sometimes answer the phone in his City Hall office and claim to be the janitor. When the caller noted Varelas’ Greek accent, Varelas joked that the mayor enjoyed when staff imitated him.
“One time a woman called to complain about the noise from airplanes and he said to her ‘are they ours or theirs?’,” Humason said. “She said ‘ours’ so he said ‘good’ and hung up!”
Humason also knew Varelas to be generous and proud of his Greek culture.
“He would make baklava and bring it to meetings,” he said.
Varelas was also tough, Humason said. “He was the right guy for mayor at that time. We needed a mayor that would make tough decisions.”
Harry Rock, former Westfield YMCA executive director and Westfield 350 Committee president said Varelas was a good citizen.
“George Varelas exemplified what it means to embrace one’s community and dedicate your life to public service. George served within the police department and as mayor, always exhibiting civic pride for Westfield by giving back to the city that he loved as a true citizen,” he said.
Varelas was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2017 and leaves three children; Elaine, Dean and Andrew, as well as three grandchildren; Jillian Ryan, Dean Varelas and Alex Varelas.
