George Jack Vagotis

George Jack Vagotis, of Lorain, OH, fell asleep in the Lord surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at age 73. He was born on September 20, 1950, in Canton, OH, to his loving parents, Angelo (Jack) and Esther Vagotis. George attended The Kiski School in Saltsburg, PA, and graduated from Lehman High School in 1968. He continued his education at Kent State University. George was the president of Georgia Mills Carpet Outlet Inc. in Elyria, Ohio, for 43 years. His involvement in the flooring industry was extremely important to him. He attributed much of his success in business to the many fruitful and special relationships he had with all of the reps and brokers, which were cultivated as a result of more than 100 buying trips to Dalton, GA, the carpet capital of the world. George served on the board of the North Eastern Ohio Floor Covering Association (NEOFCA) for many years and particularly enjoyed serving as a member of the scholarship committee. George was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Free and Accepted Masons Canton Lodge No. 60, and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Canton. He was also a member of the Mariners of the Al Koran Shrine. George felt very strongly about supporting charitable organizations. He was an avid supporter of the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe a Child Program, Second Harvest Food Bank, the St. Malachi Center for the Homeless, Boys Town, and St. Jude. He was past president of the advisory board for the Salvation Army in Lorain, OH. His involvement in the Salvation Army was very special to him due to the Salvation Army’s support of the troops while his father served in WWII. George was a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Lorain, OH, where he was a past member of AHEPA. George grew up boating on the Portage Lakes with his dad and loved being on the water. When he moved to Northeast Ohio to start his business and raise his family, he fell deeply in love with the views of Lake Erie and the peace it brought to him. In the late 1990s, propelled by the promise of those views, George challenged himself to fully restore a 100-year-old estate on the shores of Lake Erie in Lorain, Ohio. The two-year restoration project was a labor of love that he and his family enjoyed for the next 25 years. Always striving for more, George built on his momentum from his home’s restoration by turning to real estate development. In 2003, he submitted plans to the city of Avon for the development and creation of Augusta Woods, a 24-plot subdivision off of Lear Road in Avon, OH. George’s tenacity to learn and meet new challenges head-on is the legacy he leaves behind, in addition to his tangible accomplishments. George and his beloved bride, Rosemarie, were fortunate to travel extensively together. He spoke often of how much he enjoyed traveling to Greece and other parts of Europe. They took many cruises to the Caribbean and traveled throughout Canada and the US, visiting family and making precious memories. Above all else, the most important moments of George’s life were times spent with his loving, close-knit family. He lived for the holidays and large family gatherings and loved having his house bursting at the seams with his favorite people and all of the cheer and mischief it would bring. George was a serious boater, and his love of family combined with his love of being on the water inspired him to become a member of the Vermilion Boat Club, of which he was a Past Commodore. He spent many summers boating on the Great Lakes with his family and took great pride in creating his own professional crew. Upon completing his training for his Masters Mariners License, with Captain George at the helm, the Epicurean III made a 5-week trip up north to Canada to the Trent-Severn Waterway, a historic canal system of 53 locks connecting Lake Ontario to remote parts of the North Channel leading to Lake Huron. His professional crew was comprised of his three daughters and his beautiful first mate, Rosemarie. He referred to that trip as his Dream Vacation. George’s greatest joy was being a husband to his wife of 44 years, Rosemarie, and father to his three daughters and stepson. He was so grateful to be blessed with eight beautiful grandchildren that made him a “Papou”. He is preceded in death by his parents, Angelo (Jack) and Esther Vagotis, as well as his godson, Dean Pagonis. He is survived by his wife Rosemarie Vagotis (nee Schneider); daughters Astacia (Nick) Myers of Mesa, AZ, Christina (Jason Harless) Vagotis of Avon, OH, Jacquelyn (Rick) Novotny of Avon, OH, stepson Dr. Nick Komas of Chico, CA; grandchildren Rosemarie Sanchez, Luca Myers, Vivienne Myers, Alexander Harless, Rozalyn Novotny, Jocelyn Novotny, John Komas, and Will Komas; Sisters Dr. Francine Vagotis (Chuck Smeester) of Grand Rapids, MI, Angela Vagotis Kacarab (Peter) of Canton, OH; Niece and nephews Lea Smeester, Luke Smeester, and Jacob Shankel; Cousin Valerie (Jan) Zverina; Godchildren Chris Sue Leara, Michael Delczeg, Lauren Zverina, and Christos Nakos; and many cherished friends. Family and friends will be received at Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral Home, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road in Amherst, OH, on Saturday, March 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and 5:00 - 7:00 pm, with Trisagion services starting at 6:30 pm officiated by Rev. Father Christopher Zafares. Friends and family will also be received on Sunday, March 3, at the Rossi Family Funeral Home, 730 30th St. NW, Canton, OH, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with Trisagion services starting at 5:00 pm. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 4, from 10:00 am until the time of funeral services at 11:00 am at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 251 25th St. NW, Canton, OH, with Rev. Dr. Nicholas V. Gamvas officiating and assisted by Deacon Keric Shiepis. Interment will be at North Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Lee Tucker Fund https://www.clotheachildneo.org, the YMCA of Canton Jack Vagotis Scholarship Endowment Trust Subfund https://www.starkcf.org/give-ymca-vagotis, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Lorain, OH https://www.stnlorain.com, and St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, Canton, OH www.stharalambos.com.

George Jack Vagotis

September 20, 1950 - February 22, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

George Jack Vagotis

September 20, 1950 - February 22, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support