In Upper Darby and across Delaware County, many people recognize George Koudelis from the bench. Others know him from St. Demetrius, from community events, or from years of involvement behind the scenes.
In the conversation above, he speaks about his background and years in public service in his own words.
He starts with his family, tracing their roots from Korone to the Dardanelles, and then to the United States, where his parents first settled in New York before building a life in Vineland, New Jersey.
He then reflects on the years that shaped him, including his time at Vineland High School, his service in the National Guard, and his studies at Rutgers University in Camden and Temple University Law School.
He also discusses his early experience clerking for Judge Lagakos, describing how it introduced him to the legal system in a direct and practical way.
From there, he moves into his work in Upper Darby, where his involvement in local government led to his role as solicitor of the Zoning Hearing Board and eventually to his election as a judge in Delaware County, where he served for more than two decades.
He also speaks about his long involvement with St. Demetrius Church in Upper Darby, including his work with the parish, the Greek school, and the community center.
He reflects at several points on growing up in a Greek-American household and how that remained part of his life over the years.
This article and interview were made possible through the support of the Greek American Heritage Society of Philadelphia.