Updated Aug. 11 at 5:15 p.m. EST
George Kolasa, a fashion industry insider who had senior communications and marketing roles at leading designer brands, died Wednesday after an intentionally public fight with cancer.
Kolasa, 57, had been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in February 2022. He died at his home in East Hampton, New York. His death was revealed on his Instagram, where he had chronicled his 18-month battle with what is considered an incurable disease.
A public memorial is being planned in New York for the fall.
During his 30-year career in the industry, Kolasa was the consummate professional, prompt and exacting, in finessing marketing and public relations for brands including Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani. He was perennially cheerful, funny and always impeccably dressed — naturally in the brand he was working for — with never a hair out of place or a wrinkle.
Hilfiger said Thursday, “George was a superstar. We worked together for many years and really had the best time. He was sharp, had the greatest style and was always on his A-game. The industry will sorely miss this courageous and inspirational soul.”
“George was a brilliant talent who I was lucky enough to have shared many years of adventures with,” said Christopher Bailey. “He was perceptive, thoughtful and fun. But above all else, George was kind. He cared for people indiscriminately and cared how they felt. His courage and strength throughout these past years have been inspiring. Although we will miss him immensely, his wit, happy spirit and joy for life will remain with all of us fortunate enough to have been a part of his love-filled world.”
Another former senior leader at Burberry, Angela Ahrendts said Thursday, “Dear George, the world will miss your infectious energy. Your creativity, compassion and compelling personality lit up our lives and we will never forget the way you made us feel. Thank you for always showing us [the way] so selflessly and with such grace and style. We love and adore you.”
Established as Kolasa was in the industry, his true strength emanated not just from how he faced his illness head-on, but through the steadfastness in detailing his medical odyssey via social media and other public avenues. In fact, Kolasa was perhaps even more of a touchstone among cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones due to his openness about battling the rare disease. He also strived to help non-cancer patients with whatever struggles they might have — be it relationship issues or mental health.
Born in Far Rockaway, Queens, Kolasa grew up in Long Island until his family relocated to Arizona. His mother’s focus on art and work in interior design made an impression on Kolasa, who was creative and inspired by beautiful things, according to his husband Justin Tarquinio. After studying marketing at the University of Arizona and then graduating from Arizona State University, Kolasa first worked as a model. He then took a job in a Los Angeles talent agency’s mailroom and was later transferred to New York, where he was immediately fired. After meeting the fashion writer Anne Christensen one night at a party she set him up with a job interview at Mademoiselle magazine. Kolasa landed a job in the publication’s fashion closet, calling in and returning designer samples for photo shoots. While returning samples at Ralph Lauren’s company, the designer spotted him in the lobby and wanted to hire him to work in men’s public relations, Tarquinio said.
After an eight-year run at Ralph Lauren, Kolasa took a post at Tommy Hilfiger and later moved over to the Karl Lagerfeld business, which was owned by Hilfiger at that time. A natural in connecting with people, Kolasa was known to be gracious, inspiring, kind and careful not to put anything negative out in the universe. His old-school public relation style meant that he did not put himself in the spotlight, but ensured that the designer or brand took center stage.
Recalling how Kolasa reacted to an emergency room doctor’s diagnosis, his husband said he had said, “’God’s will not mine be done. I have to believe that this is God’s will.’ And I’m on this new journey. And it’s been from that moment that I’ve stayed in this place in my head. And I’ve not cried about it. I’ve not been, ‘Why me?’ I haven’t blamed anyone. It just is what it is.”
Kolasa, whose father had died days before he faced his own health crisis, also detailed the importance of positivity in the podcast, which remains accessible. “We all have to ask ourselves, ‘How do I want my story to play out? Who do I want to be going through this with?’ And I wanted to go through it with grace and with dignity and acceptance and be inspiring to other people, and to use this as a way to help other people.”
His decision to post about his treatment was driven by the belief that his voice could help others dealing with cancer. And over the years he reached thousands by doing so. While Kolasa was not motivated by numbers, but by meaningful connections, he had 55,000 Instagram followers.
Upfront about how “cancer changes everything,” Kolosa also described how although Memorial Sloan Kettering surgeons were able to remove a grapefruit-sized tumor, there were two smaller inoperable ones that resulted in six weeks of nonstop chemotherapy and radiation. Last year his openess caught the attention of hospital officials, who enlisted him to take over MSK’s account during “Brain Cancer Awareness Month.” Despite his physical ailments, he teamed up with Equinox for “Cycle for Survival,” an indoor team cycling movement that supports fighting rare cancers through research and clinical studies at MSK. Kolasa delivered the keynote address at both of the 2022 New York rides. In addition, he set out to raise $1 million for the organization – of which $525,000 has been raised. His husband vowed to reach that goal.
By his own account, connecting with others on Instagram about their situations was “extremely rewarding,” he said. “That’s what gives me purpose today in life. How do we become good role models to people in general? Not just for this disease, but for any adversity that comes up? What tools do you have in your toolbox to help you get through? I’m OK and I’m here, and I might not be one day, but I’m not afraid of that. I’m really not afraid.”
In addition to his husband Tarquinio, Kolasa is survived by his mother Rita, two sisters Susan Kolasa and Lisa Greenleaf, and a brother, Michael.
Per Wednesday’s Instagram post announcing the death of Kolasa, “who wanted nothing more than to continue his mission to beat rare cancers,” donors were directed to Team George Kolasa in lieu of sending flowers in his memory.