1923-2013
George S. Kariotis is the founder of the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation (now the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative), and the organization’s first Chairman and unpaid Executive Director. His leadership began in 1982.
Among his many positions of leadership, George served as Secretary of Economic Affairs for the Commonwealth during the King administration, and as a candidate for Governor in 1986. A successful technology entrepreneur and generous public servant, Kariotis also served as a Trustee Emeritus at Northeastern University, and on the board of directors at Burlington's Lahey Clinic.
He is remembered and honored by the MassTech team for his generosity of spirit, unassuming nature, honesty, commitment to public service and his meaningful impact on the Commonwealth's emerging technology sector.
The Kariotis Building on MassTech's Westborough campus, dedicated in 1995, honors his impactful legacy of strengthening the state's innovation economy.
Born in Boston in 1923, George Kariotis attended Northeastern University on scholarship from 1940 until July of 1943 when he joined the United States Navy V-12 unit at Tufts College. Northeastern University conferred his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering upon him in July of 1944. George served in World War II, shipping out to Japan on VJ Day, and was appointed Ensign in December 1944. George married his sweetheart, Ellen (Arvanites) Kariotis in 1945, and they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in April 2013. George began his career as an electrical engineer. He then went to work for Sprague Electric in North Adams. Climbing the corporate ladder, he relocated to Los Angeles California for 5 years with Sprague Electric, later moving back to Massachusetts to work for Microwave Associates and settling in Wayland. In 1960, George and a handful of colleagues started a small semi-conductor company called Alpha Microwave which evolved into Alpha Industries, a successful corporation which employed hundreds. He believed it to be a true honor to serve his country and to 'give back'. His love of politics led him to run for Governor of Massachusetts against Michael Dukakis. He also served under Governor Ed King as Secretary of Economic Affairs and founded the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. When asked if there was anything he would have rather done than have a chance at the Governorship, he said his first choice would have been to play left field for the Boston Red Sox. George served on many boards and was a Trustee Emeritus at Northeastern University and a board member at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
Read the Boston Globe's tribute to George Kariotis