George Petrikas ‘56
George established a lasting legacy at Colby for future Maine students.
A generous $7-million gift, from the George G. Petrikas Revocable Trust allowed Colby College to establish the George G. Petrikas Financial Aid Fund. The fund is designed to support high school graduates from Waterville or Bangor who enroll at Colby.
George Petrikas ’56, a Maine native, graduated from Bangor High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Colby. On campus, he was on Dean’s list and a member of the track team for two years. George was an avid reader and a Red Sox fan who carried a lasting connection to the Waterville community.
Petrikas served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, and for many years helped run his family’s restaurants: Atlantic Sea Grill in Bangor and Park’s Diner, a 24-hour restaurant housed inside an actual railroad car that was a popular spot for Colby students and Waterville residents. Petrikas passed away in 2019 at the age of 85.
With the help of generous donors such as George Petrikas, Colby is able to expand opportunities for talented students from all backgrounds and create long-lasting benefits that extend well beyond campus.
George Petrikas’56 (middle of the first row) was a member of the track team at Colby for two years.
