George D. Behrakis, Chairman of Gainesborough Investments, has distinguished himself in the pharmaceutical industry as a researcher and marketer of asthma and allergy products and is the founder of two successful companies – Dooner Laboratories and Muro Pharmaceutical, Inc. He has embarked on the revitalization of the business community in Lowell, Mass., by the renovation of historic buildings.
Mr. Behrakis is active in many professional and civic organizations, including the American Pharmaceutical Association, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Northeastern Alumni Association. He is a trustee of Northeastern University; a trustee of the Lowell Boys Club; a past president of the Northern Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce; serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Greek Archdiocese of America; a past president of his church, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Lowell, Mass.; vice chairman of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology; Chairman of Leadership 100, an organization of the top Greek American businessmen. Mr. Behrakis is a member of the Board of Overseers of Tufts University Medical School; past chairman of Saints Memorial Medical Center, Lowell, Mass.; the Board of Overseers of the Boston Symphony; Board of Trustees (Executive Committee Treasurer) of the Museum of Fine Arts; Board of Trustees of Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
In 1987, Mr. Behrakis received the “Man of the Year” Dr. An Wang Award from the Northern Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. A talented fundraiser, he helped secure $25 million in donations serving as chairperson of various organizations. Mr. Behrakis is a Founding Director of The Gorbachev Foundation of North America; and a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award.
His philanthropy includes the George D. Behrakis Chair in the Field of Targeted Pharmaceuticals at Northeastern University; the construction of the George D. Behrakis Health Sciences Center at Northeastern; the Triplett/Behrakis Chair at the University of Mississippi; Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology; Boston College; Bentley College; Merrimack College; Benefactor, St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, Metropolis of Boston Camp in Contoocook, New Hampshire.
At Northern Essex Community College, the Behrakis family has funded the renovation of the student center which has been named the Ourania Behrakis Student Center in honor of their late sister.
Mr. Behrakis has funded the George D. Behrakis Hellenic Fellowship in Respiratory Allergy at the Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center. This is a program established with the academic and clinical centers in Greece and supports the training of three Greek physicians per year at Johns Hopkins.
He has also funded various programs at Tufts University, Medford; Brigham and Women’s, Boston; and Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell.
Mr. Behrakis earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from Northeastern University in 1957 and has been awarded honorary degrees from Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts / Lowell campus.