George J. Schiro, 73, former port official 
Submitted by N.O.V.A. March 2006
Times Picayune 01-12-2006


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George J. Schiro, a maritime executive and former chairman of
the Port of New Orleans Dock Board, died of prostate cancer
Jan. 5 at Slidell Memorial Hospital. He was 73.

Mr. Schiro was born in New Orleans and graduated from Warren
Easton High School. He had been a resident of St. Bernard
Parish for the past 45 years.

Mr. Schiro began a career in transportation logistics in 1951
with Illinois Gulf Railroad and later worked for Acme Fast
Freight Inc. In 1971, he was hired by Southern Service Co. to
manage the importation of Toyota automobiles throughout the
Southeastern United States. Later he worked as vice president
of Bergeron Industries Inc., a barge building and repair
company, and as executive vice president of Boasso America
Corp.

Friends said Mr. Schiro will best be remembered for his civic
involvement.

"It's a great loss for the whole community," said state Sen.
Walter Boasso, R-Arabi. "He had a great way of bringing people
together. He was able to mediate between the government and the
people."

Among his civic accomplishments, Mr. Schiro served on the
Ernest N. Morial Exhibition Hall Authority in New Orleans for
nine years until 2005. He was named to the board of
commissioners of the Port of New Orleans in 1981 and served as
chairman of the board in 1983 and 1984.

Mr. Schiro also held positions on the boards of the Louisiana
Association of Business and Industry, the National Alliance of
Business, the Louisiana Shipbuilding & Repair Association and
the World Trade Center Organization.

"He was a real ambassador for the Port of New Orleans, the city
of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," said William
Bergeron, president of The Bergeron Group Inc., who was a
friend and former colleague of Mr. Schiro's.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Sparacio Hebron Schiro; a
son, George J. Schiro Jr.; two stepsons, Al Hebron and Russ
Hebron; a sister, Joycelean Schiro Rizzo; and two
grandchildren.

A Mass will be said Friday at 4 p.m. at Honaker Funeral Home,
1751 Gause Blvd. in Slidell. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. at the funeral home.