CHRONOLOGY

1923

Paul with his mother Daisy 

Paul Georges born in Portland, Oregon to Daisy Ostrow& Thomas Theseus Georges (Poppy). He was raisedJewish in Portland in the 3rd house Poppy converted from a chicken coop. The 1st 2 houses burnt down. Paul attends the same grade schools Rothko had, a decade later. The 4 kids skip school & spend May - Sept every year until high school with Mom at a rented house at   Cannon Beach. Paul swims in the Pacific Ocean daily, now it's too cold. Paul lives near an ocean his entire life

Paul (L) with Poppy and Ossie (R) his beloved brother at Cannon Beach

Thomas Georges born (Anastasios Georgios) Greek Orthodox in Medea, Greece 1881, a 2nd son without prospects left his village age 15. He walked 5 hours barefoot to the port of Nafplio, stowed away on a ship to America, worked across Canada translating for men building the railroad from Boston to the West coast, of course he didn't speak English either. Tom settled in Portland & steadily made himself into a successful American businessman, tough yet smooth.

Paul works at his father's business The Oregon Laundry from childhood on & off for decades. Very hard work for very good pay.

1939-1941

Paul draws since childhood, paints his 1st Painting age 16, wins a big Prize at Multnomah County Fair. He buys a car. Friday nights polishes his shoes to a dazzling shine, a curious lifelong routine before going out. At a Catholic girls school he swing dance & jitterbugs wildly, Paul stands out & meets his 1st girlfriend Marguerite, a Catholic girl with crossed eyes. Daisy loves projects & finds a doctor who uncrosses eyes. Little sister Shirley describes her brothers, "Ummhmm, those boys sure could fight." Around 1941, oldest brother Tommy "the Bully," throws Paul into a glass dish- display case, long scars cover the left side of Paul's torso forever.