Funeral Arrangements Announced for George Akel Jr.

Funeral services for Broome County businessman George Akel Jr. will be held in Binghamton.

Akel died Wednesday following a lengthy illness. He was 84.

Services are scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Trinity Memorial Church at 44 Main Street.

For decades, George Akel and his two brothers oversaw operations of the family business, Binghamton Giant Markets. The 12-story supermarket chain was sold to Weis Markets in 2009.

Akel was a graduate of Binghamton Central High School and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

Akel was a member of the SUNY Broome Community College board of trustees for many years.

He worked with a wide range of organizations, including the Broome County Industrial Development Agency and the Lourdes Hospital Foundation.

Akel is survived by his wife, Sara, three children and his brother Ronald. His older brother, Ferris, died in May 2017.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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