In Memoriam

George Paes

August 20, 1934-December 20, 2025

Co-Founder

George Paes learned the basics of woodturning as a student in junior high school in Providence, RI. He developed his skills on small projects of furniture and face plate work.

George was the co-founder and long-time president of the Central Coast Woodturners.

Galleries in Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria exhibited George's work. Several galleries on the east coast as well as the Worcester Massachusetts Art Center have displayed his fine work.

We will all greatly miss our founder and friend, but we're all better for the wonderful time we were able to share with him.

George Paes

By Gordon Rowland

George turned more peppermills han anyone I know. I got him to let a friend of mine make a video of him turning a pepper mill. Here is the YouTube link to the video if anyone would like to check it out.

George was an avid supporter of AAW and attended many AAW Symposiums and participated as a volunteer when possible. He was very inventive and even made many tools. When he wanted a bowl lathe, he pursued making it and then published an article in the AAW Journal on "How I Spent Six Months in a Garage".

George had the idea to get San Luis Obispo Art Center to have a woodturning show. He sold them on the idea and it grew to the point that the show included all the AAW chapters in California and was judged. CCW members supported it and it was a great event. Here is a link to an AAW article about the show.

I hope this helps give you an idea of why I called him a Woodturning Evangelist.