George E. Trebat

George E. Trebat, 96, died peacefully in the Health Care Center at Moravian Village, Bethlehem, PA.  He was the husband of the late Doris (Jones) Trebat.  Born in New York City, he was the son of the late Anthony and Albina (Vane) Trebat, speaking Czech as his first language in the Czech neighborhood of Yorkville.

George served in the First Infantry Division of the United States Army in World War II for two and a half years, and was honorably discharged in 1946. After discharge, George attended NYU, and graduated with a BA from Washington Square College in 1949.  After graduating in 1949, George flew to California to begin his career, and survived a major airplane crash in Burbank in which 35 people died. After recovering, he returned to New York to start his career, later receiving a Master’s in Finance and Banking, also from NYU.

George worked for 7 different banks over the course of his 42 years banking career, starting as an Executive Trainee at Chase Bank in Manhattan in 1950. He was president of several small banks in NJ before retiring from banking at age 62.   George then started a second career as a registered investment counselor.  

George and Doris met and married in Manhattan in NYC in 1953.  They lived on Long Island, then moved to California and finally settled down in Highland Park, NJ with their three children. After retiring, George and Doris moved to Moravian Village in Bethlehem, PA in 2003. George maintained close ties to his extended family in the Czech Republic, and traveled there many times over the years. George wrote an autobiography “The Immigrant’s Son, an American Story”, published in 2012. He was known for his wit and sense of humor, and provided valuable mentorship and financial advice to a wide network of family members and friends.

Survivors: Children, Elisabeth Trebat Waller and her husband Terry Waller of McFarland, WI, Alan Trebat and his wife Linda Calandrella of Dracut, MA, Julie Trebat of Hellertown, PA ; 8 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren.  

Service: Memorial service to be announced.  Arrangements are being handled by Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem.  

Contributions: Memorials may be made to the Czech Center New York, Bohemian National Hall, 321 E. 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021.

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