George E. Vazakas, M.D.

George E. Vazakas, MD died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loving wife, Joan, and his children. Formerly of Pittsfield and Dalton, MA, and Bonita Springs, FL, George had resided at Siena Lakes, Naples since February.

 Born in Thessaloniki, Greece to Evangelos and Martha (Stavropoulo) Vazakas, George was educated there, acquiring his medical degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Following service in the army, he was awarded a Fulbright grant to pursue graduate medical training in the United States. George received his urological training at Yale University and the University of Cincinnati.

Married to the former Joan Swanson of Manchester, CT, George returned to Thessaloniki where he opened a urology practice and taught at Aristotle University’s Medical School. Returning to the United States, he conducted research at Albert Einstein in the Bronx prior to joining a practice in Pittsfield, MA. George instructed UMass medical students, was active in the Berkshire Medical Society and was on the staff of three hospitals. He was awarded Physician of the Year upon his retirement in 1997.

A lifelong athlete, George loved his time on the Pittsfield Country Club golf course, playing with some of his dearest friends. He had a keen appreciation for music and played the violin and harmonica. George took great pleasure attending classical concerts at Tanglewood and South Mountain, among other venues. He had a talent for painting, and enjoyed working with oils and watercolors, oftentimes creating landscapes of Greece. He considered himself a lifelong learner and was avidly studying Spanish in his later years—and had a linguist’s ear for accent, emphasis and pronunciation. He was appreciated for his calm and loving demeanor, and his sense of humor. He brought light, warmth and laughter to any room that he entered, and he touched many lives.

Dr. Vazakas leaves his wife of 59 years, and his three children “Laki” and his fiancée Virginia Lewis of Brookline, MA, Carl of Jackson, WY, and Martha V. Carucci of Alexandria, VA. He was a loving grandfather (“Pappou”) to Isabella, Ben, and Nico Carucci.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 18th at 10:30am at Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34109 with burial immediately following at Palm Royale Cemetery, 6780 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, FL 34119.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in George’s memory to Avow Hospice in Naples in care of the Fuller Funeral Home, to the Artist in Residence program at Boston Children’s Hospital (Contributions can be made at bostonchildrens.org/giveinmemory. Or mail checks, payable to Boston Children's Hospital, to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301. Please include honoree’s name in the memo line) or to the National Breast Foundation, Alexandria, VA (www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.com; Or mail checks to NBCFoundation, PO Box 7257, Alexandria, VA 22307).