George (Georgie) Bersis, Age 47, of Closter, passed away on Friday, August 31, 2024. Born in Secaucus, NJ, Georgie grew up in Demarest, NJ, where he joyfully interacted with the local residents of the Demarest Duck Pond, almost all of whom were aquatic. Fishing was a love that grew as the years moved on and truly became a source of healing during his first bout with cancer.
In addition to honing his angling skills, Georgie excelled in athletics, earning Tom Kaechelle's "Golden Pinnie" award during the 1991 kickball championship. On the basketball court, he made history by sinking the first-ever half-court shot at DMS—and followed it up with the second, third, and fourth! Long before Steph Curry, Georgie showed everyone how it was done "FROM DOWNTOWN."

In 1991, a new chapter in rock and roll was written when Demarest native Brendan Ferry paused his band "The T Luby Experience" to create "Ernie," a suburban white-funk collaboration. Georgie quickly became their biggest fan. Ernie's self-taught drummer, John Shea, left plenty of space in the mix, and Georgie, ever the adventurous spirit, took to creating his own unique percussion style. With his impressive locks and expressive presence, Georgie captivated audiences with his Greek and Latin influenced rhythms.

When Ernie disbanded, Georgie knew his musical journey was far from over. He followed a dear friend to San Francisco, where he found employment backstage at The Independent, one of San Fran's premier music venues. There, he jammed with international musicians, including Sheila E, and had the honor of speaking at length with his hero, Giovanni Hidalgo, the renowned conga player. Although Hidalgo offered to teach Georgie his style at his home back in   Florida, Georgie had already lived his dream. He decided to focus on family life and missed his mother dearly.

Returning to New Jersey for a visit, Georgie reconnected with Sonia. Despite his past attempts to woo her, it seemed he was finally her perfect match. The two ignited a romance and eventually welcomed twins, Harper and Harrison. Georgie embraced fatherhood with remarkable dedication, often boasting about his top-notch swaddle game and packing eight items in a first-grader's lunch because, as he put it, "People love choices, and I don't care what others do."

Georgie's unexpected passing leaves us with a sense of unfinished business, as there seemed to be so many more lunches to pack and memories to make. He passed away with faith in God and comforted by the knowledge that his loving community would support the beautiful family he built with Sonia.

He is reunited with his beloved mother, Eleni, and is survived by his wife Svetlana; his children, Harper and Harrison; his father, Constandino; his sister, Mary; and his brother, Minoli, as well as his 6 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to support his loved ones at this GoFundMe link. https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-george-bersis-support-his-loved-ones?attribution_id=sl:bdf55ec9-5e8f-4020-9851-f71059dc6ca5&utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_content=amp9v2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link