George Tahan

George James Tahan, age 96, passed peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024.

George was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Habib and Zakia Tahan.  During his third year of high school, George was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany at the end of WWII.  He was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal before being Honorably Discharged in November of 1946. 

Upon his return from the military, George operated a gas station and then a dry cleaner before ultimately pursuing a career in the insurance and real estate industry.  After working at local insurance and real estate agencies for several years, George started his own real estate and insurance agency in the late 1970s called, “The George Tahan Agency,” which he owned and operated for approximately 20 years primarily in Paterson and Clifton.

George met Carolyn (“Karen”) in his late 30s, and after about four years of dating, they married and raised their three children in Wayne, New Jersey.  George and Karen had a loving and devoted fifty-four-year marriage that she characterized as “I had the best person in the world for me.” George was a remarkable man whose gentle demeanor and optimistic outlook on life left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Known for his unwavering positivity, George never dwelled on the past, choosing instead to focus on the present and future with a smile. His great sense of humor brought joy to those around him, as he loved to share laughter and create a lighthearted atmosphere. George's generosity knew no bounds. His persistent nature and strong work ethic were evident in every endeavor he undertook, and his patience and self-confidence were the cornerstones of his success. George was not only generous with material things but also with his time, always eager to lend a helping hand. His ability to make others laugh, coupled with his enduring spirit, made George a cherished presence in the lives of those fortunate enough to know him. A few things would get George going…despite his otherwise meticulously cleanly nature, don’t touch the mess that he called a desk, there is no such word as “can’t,” and “if you start something you finish it.”

George was the devoted husband of fifty-four years to Karen Tahan; devoted father of David Tahan and his wife Jennifer of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Nicole Dockray and her husband Eric of Toms River, and Jason Tahan and his wife Lillian of Wayne; George was the cherished grandfather of Cole, Aidan, Colin, Shea, Darrin, Jason, Brayden, Matthew and Ethan; George was predeceased by his parents, Habib and Zakia, and his siblings, Basil, Alberta, Mary, and Joseph.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to any of the following three organizations would be greatly appreciated:

National MultipleSclerosis Society or St. Ann's CharitableSociety or Wounded Warrior Project