George "Gus" Isaac

George D. “Gus” Isaac passed away in his home surrounded by family on the morning of February 10, 2025; he was 101 years old, didn’t look a day over 70, his mind sharp as a tack. George lived all those 101 years in his beloved hometown of Myers, NY. The son of Syrian immigrants, Hinia Betar (Jennie Isaac) and Tanouse Siaid (Anthony Isaac), George was the youngest of six siblings who were born on Syrian Hill, a small village of Syrian Immigrants who fled religious persecution to work in the Salt Mine Industry on the east shore of Cayuga Lake. It is here where Gus developed a lifelong relationship with the land and the water.

 George married Nina Castelin in 1951 after he came home from war, and they settled across the creek on ‘American Hill’ in Myers. Gus was not yet 18 when he enlisted in the United States Army. He fought the Second World War with Patton’s Third Division, 30th Infantry, Company L. Gus fought continuously for two years and 10 months (January 1943 – October 1945) without a furlough across nine countries in Northern Africa and Europe. He survived three major invasions: the battles of Salerno, Anzio Beachhead, and the Battle of Southern France. He was wounded on Anzio and taken to a British hospital ship where his admired commander, Captain Britt, was also healing from battle wounds. Gus subsequently returned to battle wherein he would face his greatest combat mission in Southern France. It was here, in the Battle of Colmar Pocket, where Gus and two comrades rebuilt a bridge under enemy machine gun fire so that otherwise surrounded allied forces could retreat to safety. Gus earned the Purple Heart for his wounds received on Anzio; he earned the Bronze Star and the French Citation for his courage in the Battle of Colmar Pocket. Gus was a lifelong parishioner of St. George Orthodox Church and a proud member of the North Lansing Masonic Lodge.

 As a boy, Gus worked for his brother-in-law, Jimmy Toney, a grocer in Warrensburg, NY. After his separation from military service, he worked for the International Salt Company, sewing the large bags of salt for export on the barges. When the International closed, Gus worked until his retirement for Evaporated Metal Films, a small industry in Ithaca. Gus really loved to fish perch in his favorite sugar hole off the shore of Cayuga Lake where the International once stood. The cove was recently dubbed “Isaac Cove” by the town of Lansing. Gus was an avid sports fan and loved horse racing. He also loved a good chicken bar-b-que cooked over the barrel in the back yard, a hot cup of coffee, ice cream sundaes, mowing the lawn, and sitting on his deck soaking up the sun. But most of all, Gus loved his family and his many friends from across the generations. 

 Gus is survived by his daughters, Pam (Terry) Fisk and Judy Isaac. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cassidy Fisk, Cody Fisk (Alyssa Knaack), Meggie Conley (Kyle Lounsbury), Dana Conley (Lewis Morse), and Leigh Conley (Ryan Massicci). His great-grandchildren include Noelle, Sophia, Theodore, Nina, Tony George, and Josephine. George is predeceased by his wife, Nina, and his siblings, Anthony Isaac, Susie Toney, Rhoda Mack, Michael Isaac, and Jack Isaac. 

 Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lansing Funeral Home, 32 Auburn Road, Lansing. Gus’s funeral will take place on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Lansing United Methodist Church, 32 Brickyard Road, Lansing. A military burial will take place immediately following in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lansing. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gus’s name can be made to St. George Orthodox Church, 30 Myers Heights, Lansing, NY 14882, or Honor Flight Syracuse, P.O. Box 591, Syracuse, NY 13209.