George P. Papacostas, M.D. 1973-2026

Dr. George Peter Papacostas, 52, of Wilmington, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, following a brief illness. Born on April 8, 1973, at the U.S. Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi, George lived in Canton, Ohio for most of his childhood. As a student at Central Catholic High School, George excelled as a member of the football and wrestling teams and earned his Eagle Scout Award. During his sophomore year, he played for Central Catholic's first football team to win a state championship. As a teen, a knee injury sustained at a school dance first sparked George's interest in orthopedic medicine.

George earned his bachelor's degree, with honors, from Washington University in St. Louis and later earned his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a medical residency and fellowship in orthopedic surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and went on to serve for over twenty years as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Florida, Canton, and most recently, Wilmington, Ohio.

George was preceded in death by his mother, Anita Henry. He is survived by his daughters, Abigail and Tessa Papacostas of Canton, Ohio; his loving fiancé and soulmate, Cindy Haddad of Canton; his father, Peter Papacostas (Anne) of Canton; his siblings, Helen Curtice (Brian) of Alliance, Ohio, and Thomas Papacostas (Andrew) of Columbus, Ohio; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews; his former wife and the mother of his children.

George will be remembered as a gifted, hardworking, and generous man by all who knew him.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, February 10th from 6–8 p.m. at the Rossi Family Funeral Home in Canton, with Trisagion services beginning at 6 p.m. Family and friends will also be received at Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday, February 11th from 10-11 a.m. Funeral services will begin in the church at 11 a.m., with Rev. Dr. Nicholas V. Gamvas officiating, assisted by Rev. Fr. Nicholas Halkias. Entombment to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's memory to the Buckeye Council, Scouting America, of Canton, or to the Humane Society of Stark County.

ROSSI (330) 492-5830

www.rossifuneralhomeinc.com

Stark County Humane Society
P.O. Box 7077, Canton OH 44705
Tel: 1-330-453-5529
Web: http://www.starkhumane.org/Donate/Online

Buckeye Council - Scouting America, of Canton
2301 13th Street NW, Canton OH 44708
Web: https://www.buckeyecouncil.org/support/