George Tzagournis

George A. Tzagournis, 88, fell asleep in the Lord Saturday, May 25, 2024, with his family lovingly by his side.

George was born January 24, 1936, in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of Adam and Argiro (Maropoulakis) Tzagournis. He was a 1953 graduate of South High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

George was a proud member of the Greek Fraternity, Sigma Epsilon Phi. He went on to attend Ohio Northern University Law School, and earned a Juris Doctorate of Law in 1960. That same year he passed the Ohio Bar Exam, became a member of the Ohio Bar Association, and was inducted into the Solomon Lehr Society.
He served his country in the U.S. Army, completing basic training at Fort Knox, KY., and at Fort Bragg, N.C., where his reserve was called for a year of duty during the Berlin Crisis.
He began a law practice in Youngstown in 1962, and married Tula (Eliades) of Warren, on August 30, 1964. Four years later he became involved in commercial and residential real estate, and land investments, and in 1970 opened the first privately owned franchise, Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips, in Austintown, along with his law partner, the late Atty. John Vaporis.
By 1980 George and Attorney Vaporis built more than 30 Arthur Treacher’s in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Boston, Mass.
Although busy with many endeavors, he dedicated himself to the Church. George was a life-long member of Saint John The Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman.
George assisted the relocation of the Church to Glenwood Avenue in 1966. He was a parish council member and served as president from 1981-1982, and was active in several St. John church festivals.
George was steadfast in his Christian foundation and extremely proud of his Greek heritage. He was a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), and a founding member and vice president of the Peroulakis/Theodorakis Cretan Association Chapter. He was a trustee for the Belmont Park Cemetery.

George was a member of the Mahoning County and Ohio Bar Associations, and was presented with an Honorary Award for 50 years of service.
He was in law practice 64 years, was a former member of the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, and President’s Club of The Ohio State University.
George leaves his wife of 59 years, Tula (Eliades) Tzagournis; a daughter, Helena Tzagournis (Dr. Brett Wheeler) of Upper Arlington; a son, Adam Tzagournis (Agapi Mantos) of Cleveland; three grandchildren: Adriana Hopkins (Gregory) of Upper Arlington, Samuel Wheeler of Grandview, and Dialechti Tzagournis of Cleveland. He leaves brothers, Dr. Manuel (Madeline) Tzagournis, Dr. Charles (the late Glenna) Tzagournis, William (Barbara) Tzagournis, and Dr. Louis Tzagournis all of Upper Arlington, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the United States and Greece.

A funeral service will be on Saturday, June 1st at Saint John The Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, Boardman, where family and friends may call from 10:30 to 12:00 and a service will be held at 12:00 noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests material tributes be made to Saint John The Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church, Boardman.
Arrangements are by Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home, Youngstown. Internment will be at Belmont Park Cemetery, Liberty Township.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Tzagournis, please visit our floral store.