08/21/2025
George Capsis
December 20, 1927 – July 23, 2025
We mourn the passing of George Capsis, founder and publisher of WestView News. George died on July 23, 2025, in his beloved historic brownstone at 69 Charles Street, in the heart of Greenwich Village.
George was the visionary behind WestView News, one of the most respected community newspapers in the country. What began as the Charles Street Block Association newsletter grew, under his leadership, into a vital platform that amplified unheard voices, challenged powerful interests, and united neighbors around shared concerns. His relentless commitment to truth and justice earned him the title “Godfather of the Village” and established WestView News as a fearless champion of the community.
But George was more than a publisher, he was a builder of community. His garden salons and monthly contributor meetings became spaces for spirited discussion, debate, and storytelling. Fearless and uncompromising, he welcomed diverse viewpoints, believing that every valid voice deserved to be heard, even when topics stirred controversy.
Even into his later years, George remained devoted to the welfare of his neighborhood. He tirelessly campaigned for expanded medical facilities in the Village, a fight realized shortly before his passing with the opening of a new cath lab and additional beds at Northwell Health Greenwich Village.
George leaves behind a legacy of integrity, courage, and deep love for the West Village. His vision endures in WestView News, now carried forward by Dusty Berke and a circle of friends, artists, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals dedicated to continuing his mission of “truth in reporting” and keeping the paper lively, local, and vital.
We honor George’s extraordinary life, passion, and devotion to his community. He will be profoundly missed and never forgotten.
