Dcn. George Pitula was born and raised in Manhattan's upper east side neighborhood of Yorkville (St. Monica's Parish and St. Stephen of Hungary parochial school).

He attended college at St. Bonaventure University, where he majored in philosophy. He has graduate degrees in Religious Studies from Manhattan College (now University) and from the Archdiocesan Catechetical Institute of St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers.

Dcn. George's professional career was in the field of education, first as a high school teacher at La Salle Academy, and then for 29 years at Mount St. Michael Academy. He was also as associate dean of St. Joseph's Seminary, principal of Blessed Sacrament Elementary School in New Rochelle until its closure, and assistant principal of Resurrection School in Rye. 

He and his wife Deborah (former principal of St. Gabriel School) are the proud parents of two adult daughters, and also proud, delighted, and blessed with a granddaughter and grandson.

Dcn. George was ordained to the diaconate by the archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, on 8th June 2013 at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and had served our parish here in Riverdale since then.