George Haseotes, the low-profile powerhouse behind the Cumberland Farms convenience-store empire, died on March 18 at age 94 after a brief illness in West Palm Beach, Florida. His death has sparked a wave of tributes from family members, church leaders and local media, many of whom credit him as a key force in turning a modest family venture into a New England fixture. For generations of customers, those white-and-blue storefronts were part of the daily routine, and his passing feels like the quiet closing of a familiar neighborhood chapter, as per PR Newswire.
According to a family press release shared via PR Newswire, Haseotes died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Palm Beach, surrounded by his children and other relatives, as funeral plans were being finalized. Local coverage later confirmed his age and the March 18 date of death and highlighted the Haseotes clan’s longstanding roots in the region. WCVB and other outlets published remembrances in the days that followed.
From One Cow To Hundreds Of Stores
As chronicled by the Orthodox Observer, the Haseotes story starts well before the bright canopies and gas pumps. In 1939, the family launched its business with just $84 and a single cow on a 110-acre farm in Cumberland, Rhode Island. By the 1950s, they had opened a dairy store, and that simple milk counter steadily expanded its offerings.
Over time, that side-of-the-road milk shop morphed into one of New England’s largest convenience and fuel operations. As the company matured, family holdings and operations stretched across multiple states, supporting a substantial petroleum network that went far beyond the original farmhouse and pastures.
Sale To EG Group Shifted Ownership
In 2019, the Haseotes family sold Cumberland Farms to U.K.-based EG Group, a transaction that industry observers said preserved the name while folding it into EG America’s broader portfolio. Convenience Store News covered the deal and the reaction around the sector at the time…