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George T."The Blade" Koran died on Monday, 1/11/99. He grew up in Passaic and Clifton, New Jersey and lived in Garfield, New Jersey before moving to Albuquerque in 1947. Mr. Koran served as a teenager in the CCC's. He was a pioneer of Aviation, flying out of Teterboro Airport. In WWII he served as a fighter pilot, one of the famous"Flying Tigers" in the Burma-China Arena, and was rated"Ace" for his efforts. After the War he located in Albuquerque, where he started Koran Construction Company, which built and developed a large part of what is the modern city, both residentially and commercially. He was involved in many business activities in the community, including co-founding the Republic Bank of New Mexico. He served as a board member and fund-raiser for a variety of organization, including the Santa Fe Opera. He remained active in the Military, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air National Guard. From 1966-1970, he served as a State Senator and was highly regarded in the Republican Community on all levels. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Daugherty; his brother, Andrew of Garfield, NJ; and his sister, Marion Major of Clifton, NJ. He is survived by five children, George Jr. of California, Donald, Steven and Kristen, all of Texas and Cathryn Garlinger of Edgewood, NM; eight grandchildren; nieces, Audrey Naumann and Lorelei Kaminsky of Hackensack, NJ. Services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, in the chapel of Fitzgerald and Son Funeral Directors, 3113 Carlisle NE. Interment will follow in the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:00 noon.
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