In Memory of Georgios (Starcadian), Supporting His Family

On May 1st, 2025, Georgios Smaragdis passed away in a sudden and tragic traffic accident in New York City. His loss is devastating and unimaginable, leaving his loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fans across the universe heartbroken.

A native of Greece, he was raised in the breathtaking town of Chania, on the island of Crete—a place of rugged snow-capped mountains, rustic villages, and clear sparkling seas. His childhood there was joyful and pure, shaped by the island’s history, its magic and the love and warmth of his people. It formed the foundation for George’s generous heart, optimistic soul and unapologetic connection to his creativity. His hometown, known in ancient times as the powerful city of Kydonia or Cydonia, has always held a sacred place in his heart.

In the years to come, he attended undergrad in the UK, served in the Greek military, and acquired a Masters in Brooklyn NY, where he stayed and met the majority of our current friends. Having worked in the tight-knit VFX community for 16 years, most of us know him as George—the quick witted, hilarious, sarcastic, insightful, warm-hearted friend and freelance artist, turned CG supervisor and beloved mentor.

But to many, he is known as Starcadian—the visionary musician with a global following behind Sunset Blood, Midnight Signals and many other albums whose music touched countless lives. His cinematic soundscapes, world-building, and genre-bending vision drew listeners into a rich, imaginative universe. He was a friend to his fans, and an inspiration to many. And we hope his legacy continues to live through them.

At the time of his passing, George was preparing to become a father. He is survived by his mother Kalliopi, his brother Paris, sister-in-law Karrie, his nephew Aris, and his fiancée and life partner of 12 years, Tehmina, who is currently pregnant with their first child. Tehmina, like George, is also an avid cinephile with a busy career in visual effects onset and in post.

This fundraiser is to support Tehmina and their baby in the months ahead, as they navigate this life-altering loss and prepare for a future that now looks heartbreakingly different.

The funds raised will help cover:

Prenatal & medical care

Hospital bills

Maternity leave

Postpartum & ongoing childcare

Legal fees

Relocation aid, as their current apartment is not fit for a newborn

A Note About Fees and Direct Giving

GoFundMe deducts a 2.9% + $0.30 fee per donation to cover credit card processing. For example, a $100 donation results in about $96.80 received after fees.

If you know Tehmina personally and would prefer to donate directly and avoid these fees, you’re welcome to send support by check. We will manually add these gifts to the GoFundMe total so they are reflected in the overall support.

By Mail:

Please make checks out to Tehmina using her full name. Name & total will be added to the Gofundme totals, there just may be a delay.

516 Myrtle Ave. PMB #105

Brooklyn NY 11205

Whether you knew George as a colleague, a friend, a mentor, or through his music as Starcadian—thank you for remembering him, and for helping us care for the family he was building. Your support means more than words can say