Crash kills prominent biz leader Constantine Pavlides

Constantine "Chris" Pavlides, an associate professor at Temple University and a prominent figure in the Philadelphia business community, died Tuesday when he lost control of his minivan and crashed on the Conchester Highway in Delaware County.

Pavlides, 62, founder of the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to state police.

"He was an enthusiastic advocate for entrepreneurship at Temple, for the subject matter and for the students," said M. Moshe Porat, dean of Temple's Fox School of Business. "He organized executives, he connected the school to business people, and the students loved him. His vibrant teaching style made him complete."

From 2004 to 2008, Pavlides served as executive director of the Fox School's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, elevating the program into the top 10 in the nation.

Pavlides was a former chief operating officer and chief financial officer at StrikeForce Technologies, an identity-protection and -verification company in Edison, N.J., and CFO at Electron Direct in Wilmington. He previously was managing director of global syndications for AT&T Capital Corp. and vice president of corporate banking for Chase Manhattan Bank.

"Aside from being a kind, thoughtful and enthusiastic person, Chris made great strides in connecting C-level executives across the area. He helped build a better Philadelphia region," said Roy Hibberd, vice chairman of the Board of Directors of GPSEG. "Chris believed giving was better than receiving, and he had a real passion for assisting others - in career transition and otherwise," he added.

Pavlides, of West Chester, is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and two children, Charles and Elizabeth.

Funeral arrangements are pending.