Guard colleagues remember Brig. Gen. George Christakos

BANGOR – When characterizing retired Brig. Gen. George Christakos on Monday, Maj. Gen. Bill Libby said his former colleague, who died on Friday, was best remembered as a “no-nonsense, clear-thinking, straight-talking kind of guy.”

Libby, adjutant general of the Maine National Guard, said he considered Christakos his mentor, an airman’s general who cared deeply for his troops.

“He lived a life that everyone could stand to emulate,” said Libby, who served as the assistant adjutant general for the Army Guard in Augusta, while Christakos served the same post for the Air Guard. “He served his community, his state and his country. Those are things that if said about any of us when we pass, it would describe a full and complete life.”

Christakos graduated from Bangor High School in 1958 and entered the U.S. Air Force in 1963 after receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Husson College.

He joined the Maine Air National Guard in 1970 and held several leadership roles during his 28 years with the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, including as commander of the 101st Support Squadron. In 1998, he became the assistant adjutant general for the Air Guard and worked at headquarters in Augusta until his retirement in 2001.

Retired Maj. Gen. Nelson Durgin, former adjutant general for the Maine National Guard, recalled the numerous trips the two made together to the Bangor air base. Christakos always stood up for his beliefs and was a devoted family man, he said.

Whether hunting, fishing or playing 18 holes at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, Christakos was a “head to head competitor,” Libby said.

“There was nothing phony about him, he didn’t beat around the bush,” said Durgin. “Sometimes he was more direct than what people wanted to hear, but his directness was refreshing because people wanted to know where things were going to go.”

Christakos took pride in understanding the roles and jobs of his airmen and held accurate expectations for how and when projects should be completed, Durgin said.

“He was very knowledgeable,” said Col. Don McCormack, chief of the joint staff of the Maine National Guard. “He taught me the value of relationships. He developed relationships at different levels – with other units, other states, and the federal level because you never know when you’re going to need them.”

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 90 Sanford St., Bangor. Internment with full military honors will be held following the funeral, at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.